Fathers' Involvement And Child Behavior Problems In Poor African American Single-Mother Families

Publication Year
2011

Type

Journal Article
Abstract

The present study examined the effects of nonresident fathers' involvement–measured by the frequency of fathers' contact with their children and the quality of fathers' parenting–on their children's behavior problems. Using data from a subsample of African American single and non-cohabiting mothers from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing study, results indicate that more frequent contact between fathers and their child and fathers' more adequate parenting were associated indirectly with fewer child behavior problems transmitted through more adequate parenting by mothers. The quality of mothers' parenting was associated positively with the quality of the mother–father relationship and with both the quality and the frequency of the fathers' contacts with their child. Policy and practice implications are discussed.

Journal
Children & Youth Services Review
Volume
33
Issue
5
Pages
698-704