In examining variation by offspring sex, some intriguing findings emerged. We found that greater closeness with father (but not mother) was associated with larger P3 among male (but not female) offspring. On the other hand, greater closeness with mother (but not father) was associated with less binge drinking among female (but not male) offspring. Speculatively, the differential impact of the parenting styles of fathers and mothers on children’s brain development and behavior may explain some of these significant associations. Research on parenting has largely focused on mothers with only a handful of studies examining fathers. Although scant, research has shown that father–child relationships are more influential on children’s and adolescents’ mental health than mother–child relationships (Gryczkowski et al., 2010). There is evidence that father–child interactions provide children with enriching experiences that are unique from mother–child interactions. The high-energy, unpredictable play facilitated by fathers by encouraging children to take risks and overcome obstacles may be an important context for developing socioemotional skills and practicing self-regulatory behaviors (Grossmann et al., 2008; Majdandzic et al., 2014; Meuwissen & Englund, 2016). For example, father’s
