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Father Involvement and Child Outcomes in African American Nonmarital Families

2. Single Black Fathers Portrayed Badly . Painted with a broad brush as dead beat dadsMany Black fathers despite their challenges are ?being there" for their kidsSome non-resident fathers visit their child daily Some write and call every day from jailSome provide food, clothes, and toys regularl

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Father Involvement and Child Outcomes in African American Nonmarital Families

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    1. 1 2012-06-28 Father Involvement and Child Outcomes in African American Nonmarital Families

    2. 2 Single Black Fathers Portrayed Badly Painted with a broad brush as dead beat dads Many Black fathers despite their challenges are “being there” for their kids Some non-resident fathers visit their child daily Some write and call every day from jail Some provide food, clothes, and toys regularly

    3. 3 Marriage as a Goal Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study found that at birth half of single, Black mothers live with the father. For all races, most say they are romantically involved and hope to or plan to marry. More men than women reported that they want to marry. After 5 years, only 65% of poor fathers have seen their children in the past month.

    4. 4 Fathers as Breadwinners Forty-three percent of Black single-mother families lived in poverty in 2006 compared to 30%, 24%, and 43% of their white, Asian, and Hispanic counterparts, respectively (U.S. Census Bureau, 2007). U.S. policy makers want fathers to pay for their children to cut welfare aid. But, little is known about Black nonmarital father-child involvement in part because the relationships are complex. The present study aims to reduce this gap in the research literature.

    5. 5 2012-06-28 Father Absent Homes Much literature indicates that children in father absent homes are at greater risk for lower educational attainment, behavior and mental health problems, substance abuse, and delinquency, largely due to poverty (McLanahan & Sandafur, 1994). Children in father-absent homes are 5 times more likely to be poor (U.S. Census Bureau, Children’s Living Arrangements and Characteristics, March 2002, P200-547, Table C8, Washington, DC: GPO, 2003).

    6. 6 2012-06-28 Nonmarital Birth Rates U.S. nonmarital birth rates Black 69% White 24.5% (Child Trends, 2006) Overall - 1960 - 5.3% 2004 - 35.7% Canadian birth rates (2005) Marital - 69% Common-law – 22% (11% in Ontario – 46% in Quebec)

    7. 7 2012-06-28 Children living with a single parent 1960 2006 Black children 22% 56% White children 7% 22.5% Canadian children living with a single parent – Black - 2001 - 46% All Canadian children - 2006 - 15.9%

    8. 8 The negative direct and indirect effects of father involvement on child wellbeing are well established primarily in studies of White families as are the exacerbating influences of low income, economic hardship, and low maternal education (Dearing, McCartney, & Taylor, 2001; Fraser, Kirby, & Smokowski,2004; Tamis-LeMonda, Shannon, Cabrera, & Lamb, 2004; Wen, 2008).

    9. 9 Mixed findings Father involvement associated with fewer preschool Black child behavior problems and better school readiness (Black, Dubowitz, & Starr, 1999; Downer & Mendez, 2005; Jackson, 1999; Tamis-LeMonda et al., 2004). For Black (compared to White) children, father involvement was associated with more behavior problems (King & Heard, 1999).

    10. 10 A large body of literature links maternal depressive symptoms with problem outcomes for White and Black children (Downey & Coyne, 1990; Jackson, Brooks-Gunn, Huang, & Glassman, 2000).

    11. 11 Black maternal parenting style was associated with child behavior problems, but influenced by family risk factors (McGroder, 2000). Unstable relationships and partner changes in low-income, Black families are associated with diminished maternal parenting and child problems (Osborne et al., 2004).

    12. 12 Perceived maternal financial strain and lower maternal education were associated with higher maternal depressive symptoms, which was directly and indirectly linked through parenting quality to child behavior problems (Jackson, Brooks-Gunn, Huang, & Glassman, 2000). Father involvement associated with better maternal mental health and child behavior and achievement (Jackson, 1999).

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    14. 14 Risk factors - Poverty, father absence, maternal depressive symptoms & poor parenting (Fraser, 2004). Protective factors - Economic security, father involvement, mentally healthy mothers, & nurturing parenting (Fraser, 2004).

    15. 15 2012-06-28 H1: Better father’s parenting will be associated with less child behavior problems and higher language scores.

    16. 16 2012-06-28 H2: Better father’s parenting will be associated with less child behavior problems and higher language scores transmitted through less maternal depressive symptoms and better mother’s parenting.

    17. 17 Data source – Wave 1 – 3 data sets from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study; Sample from 75 hospitals in 20 cities across the U.S.   Participants – A cohort of 550 Black, single mothers who are not married or co-habiting with the biological fathers of their child born between 1998 to 2000 – birth to preschool age Analysis – Structural Equation Modeling using Mplus with maximum likelihood estimates For the analysis, we used the longitudinal dataset from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing study. We only included unmarried Black mothers. Teenage mothers were excluded. Mothers cohabiting with their children’s father or having romantic relationship were also excluded. The total number of participants were 550. We used structural equation modeling. For imputing missing data, maximum likelihood estimates were computed using Mplus. For the analysis, we used the longitudinal dataset from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing study. We only included unmarried Black mothers. Teenage mothers were excluded. Mothers cohabiting with their children’s father or having romantic relationship were also excluded. The total number of participants were 550. We used structural equation modeling. For imputing missing data, maximum likelihood estimates were computed using Mplus.

    18. 18 Mother’s Education – (1) Less than high school, (2) H.S. diploma, (3) Some college or more. Economic Hardship – 12-item scale (a=.68) for financial difficulties including bill payment, loss of utilities, hunger, food, residential movement, etc. Maternal Depressive Symptoms – 14-item scale (a=.93) for losing interest, feeling tired, trouble sleeping, thinking about death, etc. Mother’s Parenting – 8-item scale (a=.68) for playing games, reading books, telling stories, showing physical affection, etc. Our model included mothers’ factors to determine their children’s outcomes such as mother’s educational attainment, economic hardship, maternal depressive symptoms, and mothers’ parenting. Our model included mothers’ factors to determine their children’s outcomes such as mother’s educational attainment, economic hardship, maternal depressive symptoms, and mothers’ parenting.

    19. 19 Father Involvement Father’s Contact with Child – Frequency per month Father’s Child Support Payment - $ amount per month Father’s Parenting – 8-item scale (a=.90) for playing games, reading books, telling stories, showing physical affection, etc. (Mother’s vs. father’s report) Child Behavior Problems – 65-item scale (a=.92) for internal (angry moods, little affection, etc.) and external (fights, cry, destruction, etc.) behavioral problems. Language Development (PPVT) - A widely-used measure of receptive vocabulary that measures the size and range of words that the child understands. As the key variable, father involvement was measured by three different variables; First, father’s contact with the child by questioning how many days father has seen child during the past 30 days. Second, father’s child support payment as dollar amount per month. Third, father’s parenting practice. It is the same scale as mother’s parenting practice that I mentioned before. All three variables were asked both mother and father. Therefore, we used total six variables, three variables from mothers’ report and fathers’ report each. As child outcome variables, we used child behavior problems and language development scales. As the key variable, father involvement was measured by three different variables; First, father’s contact with the child by questioning how many days father has seen child during the past 30 days. Second, father’s child support payment as dollar amount per month. Third, father’s parenting practice. It is the same scale as mother’s parenting practice that I mentioned before. All three variables were asked both mother and father. Therefore, we used total six variables, three variables from mothers’ report and fathers’ report each. As child outcome variables, we used child behavior problems and language development scales.

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    25. 25 Started in 2002, the Healthy Marriage Initiative funds programs to promote healthy marriage, father involvement and co-parenting to improve child wellbeing [Administration for Children & Families (ACF) Press office, 2006, February 8] In 2006, TANF reauthorization provided $150 million per year for 5 years to fund parenting, communication, and conflict resolution skills & fatherhood program.

    26. 26 Targets noncustodial fathers to help them provide financial and emotional support for their children by increasing child support payments, employment and earnings, and parental involvement (MDRC, 2008; Miller & Knox, 2001). Offers unmarried parents services for education, employment, health and mental health issues, relationship problems, and domestic violence (MDRC, 2008; Doolittle & Lynn, 1998).

    27. 27 Building Strong Families Pilot Project 1. Relationship Skills - Psychoeducational 2. Family Support Services – parenting, employment, substance abuse 3. Family Coordinators – Needs assessment, referrals, emotional support, and reinforcement 4. Reduce Financial Disincentives to Marry http://www.buildingstrongfamilies.info/ Administration for Children and FamiliesAdministration for Children and Families

    28. 28 Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Families Act of 2007 This legislation would address child support distribution and arrears management; expand the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for non -custodial parents paying child support; and increase funding for domestic violence activities in marriage and fatherhood and employment programs http://www.clasp.org/publications/responsible_fatherhood_act_of_2007.pdf

    29. 29 Greater focus on resilient single, Black fathers who parent well despite the challenges Measures need to be validated for race and culture Need better measures to analyze complex family relations

    30. 30 Thank you

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