Children's socialization experiences and functioning in single-mother households: the importance of fathers and other...

This research considers the importance of biological fathers and other men for children in unmarried-mother families. One hundred and eleven third- and fourth-grade children reported on the provision by fathers and other men of various social, emotional, and disciplinary experiences. Factor analysis revealed 2 relational dimensions among these social experiences--warmth and control. Results of multivariate regression analyses indicated that fathers' provision of warmth and control related to better academic achievement for children, and the provision of control from nonpaternal men predicted fewer teacher-rated behavior problems in school and more prosocial behaviors toward peers. These relations were moderated by children's gender, race, and maternal marital history. Girls and Black children were more positively affected by relations with fathers and father figures than were boys and White children, and divorced fathers were more influential in children's achievement than never-married fathers. Implications of the findings for social policy and intervention efforts are discussed.