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Paternal absence and sex-role development: a meta-analysis
1Department of Psychological Science, Ball State University, Muncie, IN 47306.
Child Development
|June 1, 1988
Summary
Father absence impacts sex typing differently across ages and sexes. While preschool boys show less stereotypical behavior, older boys exhibit more aggression, with no clear differences found in females.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Family Studies
- Sociology
Background:
- Understanding the influence of paternal presence on child development is crucial.
- Previous research on father absence and sex typing has yielded varied results.
- A comprehensive meta-analysis is needed to synthesize existing evidence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To meta-analyze studies comparing sex typing in father-present and father-absent children.
- To investigate potential moderating factors such as age, sex, and sample type.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a meta-analysis of 67 studies, yielding 222 effect size estimates.
- Employed Hedges's approach to meta-analysis due to statistical considerations.
- Analyzed differences based on publication type (published vs. unpublished) and sample characteristics (clinical/incarcerated vs. typical).
Main Results:
- Published studies reported larger effect sizes than unpublished works.
- Clinical and incarcerated samples differed significantly from typical samples.
- No generalizable sex typing differences were found for females.
- Preschool father-absent boys displayed less stereotypical toy/activity choices.
- Older father-absent boys showed more stereotypical aggressive behavior.
Conclusions:
- Father absence has differential effects on male sex typing, varying by age.
- The impact of father absence on sex typing is complex and multidimensional.
- Future research should consider these nuances in conceptualizing sex roles.