MEASUREMENT OF FATHER-CHILD ROUGH-AND-TUMBLE PLAY AND ITS RELATIONS TO CHILD BEHAVIOR.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Systematic review and meta-analysis (Level 1 by design analogy)
PubMed 29088498 · doi:10.1002/imhj.21676
What was done
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 16 studies evaluating associations between father-child physical play (specifically rough-and-tumble play) and child behavioral outcomes. The review analyzed data from 1,521 father-child dyads (35% boys) and examined study methodology, including definitions of physical play, observational play settings, measurement tools, and behavioral coding systems.
What was found
The meta-analysis identified weak-to-moderate population effects linking father-child physical play with child aggression, social competence, emotional skills, and self-regulation. Specific numerical effect sizes, confidence intervals, and significance values were not reported in the abstract.
Why it matters
This review synthesizes the empirical evidence on father-child physical play, indicating modest links to key socioemotional and self-regulatory capacities while establishing the need for standardized measurement and coding frameworks.
Limits
The abstract does not report specific point estimates, confidence intervals, or heterogeneity statistics. The total sample across 16 studies is relatively small (1,521 dyads) with an uneven sex distribution (35% boys). Observational study designs cannot establish causality, and substantial variation exists across studies regarding how rough-and-tumble play is defined, situated, and coded.
Cited by
- supports Research shows that fathers specifically engage in more physically demanding, vigorous play with their children.