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Children and their fathers after parental separation
J M Healy1, J E Malley, A J Stewart
1Rhode Island College, Providence.
The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry
|October 1, 1990
Summary
Ongoing father contact after divorce impacts children differently based on age, gender, and family dynamics. Simple answers about benefits or detriments are not supported by this study on child adjustment.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Family Studies
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Parental separation significantly impacts children's lives.
- Understanding factors influencing child adjustment post-divorce is crucial.
- Existing research offers mixed conclusions on father-child contact after separation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the effects of various factors on children's self-esteem and behavioral adjustment.
- To investigate how child's age and gender interact with visitation and conflict.
- To determine if father-child contact is universally beneficial or detrimental post-divorce.
Main Methods:
- A two-year longitudinal study involving 121 children (aged 6-12) in maternal custody.
- Data collection at two time points assessing child adjustment and predictor variables.
- Analysis of main and interacting effects of visitation frequency/regularity, father-child closeness, and parental legal conflict.
Main Results:
- Predictors of child adjustment varied significantly across different child groups and situations.
- No simple, universal relationship was found between father contact and child outcomes.
- Interactions between child characteristics and post-divorce family environment were significant.
Conclusions:
- The impact of father-child contact post-divorce is complex and context-dependent.
- Oversimplified conclusions regarding the benefits or detriments of father visitation are unwarranted.
- Future research should consider the nuanced interplay of factors affecting children's adjustment.