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Fathers’ Footprints: The Role of the Father-Son Relationship in Shaping Men’s Experience and Expression of Anger in Egypt
Abstract In many Egyptian families, the father holds a central position as an authority figure, a protector, and a provider, yet often remains emotionally reserved and relationally distant. The emotional legacy of paternal acceptance or rejection extends into adulthood, shaping patterns of emotional...
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| Format: | Thesis |
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AUC Knowledge Fountain
2026
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| Summary: | Abstract
In many Egyptian families, the father holds a central position as an authority figure, a protector, and a provider, yet often remains emotionally reserved and relationally distant. The emotional legacy of paternal acceptance or rejection extends into adulthood, shaping patterns of emotional regulation. Particularly, the father-son relationship plays a fundamental role in shaping men’s experiences and expressions of anger. Within cultural contexts discouraging vulnerability and associating masculinity with strength and emotional restraint, anger may become one of the few socially acceptable modes of emotional expression for men. This study positions these dynamics within the cultural context of fatherhood in Egypt, responding to the scarcity of research focused on Arab men. Grounded in a developmental perspective, specifically IPARTheory and Attachment Theory, this study examines how perceived parental acceptance-rejection and adult attachment patterns contribute to men’s experiences and expressions of anger.
A sample of 251 Egyptian men (ages 18-67) completed a demographics survey followed by standardized measures. These measures assessed attachment dimensions (Revised Adult Attachment Scale-Close Relationships Version), perceived parental acceptance-rejection (PARQ; short father and mother versions), and anger (Multidimensional Anger Inventory). Data were analyzed using correlational, regression, mediation, and moderation analyses.
Attachment anxiety emerged as the strongest predictor of anger experiences, followed by attachment avoidance, highlighting that higher attachment insecurity was linked to more frequent and intense anger experiences. Paternal rejection was associated with greater inward anger expression. Mediation analyses revealed that both attachment anxiety and avoidance partially mediated the association between paternal rejection and internalized anger in men.
Additionally, attachment avoidance fully and negatively mediated the relationship between paternal rejection and outward expression of anger. These findings position attachment insecurity as a key mechanism linking paternal rejection to men’s internal and external anger expressions. This highlights the need for culturally-informed interventions that promote attachment security and healthier emotional expression. |
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