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Father involvement in child welfare: Associations with changes in externalizing behavior.
Scott C Leon1, Grace Jhe Bai1, Anne K Fuller1
1Department of Psychology, Loyola University Chicago, United States.
Nonresident father involvement positively impacts children in state custody, reducing externalizing behaviors over time. This protective effect highlights the importance of father engagement for child welfare. Keywords: nonresident father involvement, child welfare, externalizing behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Family Studies
- Social Work
Background:
- Nonresident father involvement significantly influences child behavioral outcomes.
- Limited research exists on father involvement's impact on children in child welfare.
- This study addresses the gap in understanding father's role for children in state custody.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between nonresident father involvement and externalizing behaviors in children in child welfare.
- To examine if father involvement predicts changes in externalizing behaviors over time.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 333 children (ages 6-13) in Illinois state custody.
- Externalizing behaviors assessed using the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) scale.
- Father involvement measured via case file reviews and interviews with child welfare workers.
Main Results:
- Higher father involvement was linked to lower baseline externalizing behaviors.
- Father involvement predicted a decrease in externalizing behaviors over time.
- African American children exhibited higher baseline externalizing behaviors.
Conclusions:
- Nonresident father involvement acts as a protective factor for children in child welfare.
- Sustained father engagement can mitigate externalizing behaviors in children under state care.
- Findings underscore the importance of supporting father involvement within child welfare services.
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