<p>Theoretical and empirical interest in the role of fathers in youth development has increased in recent years, especially regarding ways fathers may serve unique protective influences against the emergence of children’s psychopathology. This multi-informant longitudinal study examined relations between fathers’ autonomy and emotional support on youth psychopathology symptoms in 298 families from the Midwestern United States (M _{time 1 child age} = 11.1 years; 51.5% girls; 88% of sample was White). A between-person effect of paternal emotional support indicated that fathers higher in emotional support had youth with lower externalizing problems. A within-person effect of paternal emotional support additionally showed that at times when fathers were more emotionally-supportive than usual, youth experienced lower externalizing problems. Several age moderation effects were also identified. Children and early adolescents with fathers higher in emotional support had lower externalizing problems, and children with fathers higher in emotional support had lower internalizing problems. In contrast, for middle adolescents, there was a key link with paternal autonomy support, as youth whose fathers were higher in autonomy support had lower externalizing problems. Implications and future directions for understanding protective mechanisms underpinning fathers’ emotionally- and autonomy-supportive parenting are discussed.</p>