The Relative Importance of Father Involvement for Child Behavior among African American Children

Background & Purpose: Fathers and father figures may serve a protective function in the lives of at-risk children: father involvement may decrease child behavior problems, contribute to increased social competence and cognitive functioning, and decrease risks for psychological and social problems (Black, Dubowitz & Starr, 1999; Carlson, 2006; Dubowitz et. al., 2001; Marshall & English, Stewart, 2001). The purpose of this study was to explore differences in child behavior about children who had significant contact with their biological fathers compared to children without such involvement with their fathers.

Method: This secondary data analysis included children from 143 female-headed families who were served by Family Connections (FC). The children were between 5-11 years old, and from families with indicated risk factors for child neglect. Hierarchical regression analyses were used to explore the impact of father involvement on children's behavior. The analyses controlled for the influence of caregiver characteristics (age, depression, parenting satisfaction, and social support), family income, and child gender. Father involvement was defined as having contact with the child on at least a monthly basis - 38% of caregivers reported this level of involvement. Child behavior was measured by CBCL externalizing and internalizing raw scores.

Results: For internalizing behavior, although the regression model was significant on the final step (F=2.056, p=.045), and accounted for 10% of the variance in CBCL scores, father involvement was not a significant predictor (Β = -.149, p=.073); caregiver's report of depressive symptoms was the only significant predictor in the model (Β =.256, p=0.10).

For externalizing behavior the model was significant on the final step (F=2.69, p=.009) and accounted for 13% of the variance in CBCL scores. Father involvement was a significant predictor of externalizing behavior problems (Β=-.190, p=.020) and indicated that for children with some involvement with their biological father, CBCL scores can be expected to be lower, indicating fewer total problems (95% CI: -8.81: -.756). For externalizing behaviors, depressive symptoms and other caregiver characteristics were not significant predictors.

Descriptive statistics on t-scores revealed that children with father involvement had mean t-scores within the normal range for internalizing behaviors (M=52, SD=11.8), and children with no father involvement had mean scores that were slightly higher, but still within the normal range (M=56.5, SD=11.89). For externalizing behaviors, however, father involvement was associated with normal range scores (55.9, SD=13.7) and no father involvement was associated with mean scores in the borderline clinical range (M=62.3, SD=12.3).

Conclusion & Implications: Findings suggest that children's involvement with their biological fathers can have a significant positive impact on behavior regardless of caregiver and family characteristics. This supports previous research that suggests father involvement may be associated with better behavioral and mental health outcomes for children. Engaging fathers to play active roles in their children's lives may be an important goal for practitioners who work with vulnerable families. Social workers who serve vulnerable families may need to support father involvement, and be attentive to the barriers associated with involvement.