Exploring non-resident fatherhood and child well-being in the early years using the Growing Up in Scotland study
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Date
28/11/2016Author
Rogers, Sarah Lynne
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Abstract
Levels of non-resident parenthood in Scotland are substantial. The 2011 Scottish Census
indicated 28 per cent of all families with dependent children to be lone parent households.
Whilst non-resident parenthood is not synonymous with non-resident fatherhood, 92 per
cent of such households were headed by the mother (ONS, 2014). Child well-being in
non-resident father households is an issue of concern amongst policy makers and
practitioners and both law and policy appear to operate on the principle that the
maintenance of non-resident father-child relationships is generally conducive to child
well-being. Whilst there is evidence to suggest the well-being of children in non-resident
father households is typically poorer than their contemporaries in two natural parent
households (Amato and Keith, 1991; Amato, 2005), and indeed evidence to suggest non-resident
father involvement may benefit child well-being (Amato and Gilbreth, 1999;
Adamsons and Johnson, 2013), the existing research has a number of limitations. Firstly,
studies have typically adopted narrow conceptualisations of child well-being. Secondly,
few studies have sought to disaggregate the total effects of non-resident fatherhood to
consider both those transmitted directly and indirectly via mediating variables. Finally,
increasing numbers of non-marital births coupled with evidence suggesting cohabiting
relationships to be at an increased risk of breakdown in children’s early years compared
to marriages (Greaves and Goodman, 2010), has culminated in increasing levels of early
years non-resident fatherhood, an issue which has received less attention in the literature.
Using data from the Growing Up in Scotland study this research explores associations
between non-resident fatherhood and child well-being and the potential pathways through
which such associations may operate. The research conceptualises child well-being as a
multi-dimensional construct comprising four key domains: social, emotional and
behavioural development, cognitive development, general health and material resources
and uses structural equation modelling to consider the extent to which firstly, living in a
non-resident father household, and secondly, non-resident father involvement is
associated with child well-being directly, or indirectly, via household income, maternal
mental health and parenting behaviours.
The results show that, relative to two natural parent households, child well-being across
each of the four domains is poorer in non-resident father households headed by a lone
mother but not in those where the mother has re-partnered. Only one statistically
significant direct association was found in the domain of material resources with the
results suggesting much of the negative association to be transmitted indirectly via
household income and maternal mental health. For those children who were reported as
having some form of contact with their father, the results indicate paternal involvement to
be indirectly associated with fewer social, emotional and behavioural difficulties via
maternal mental health. Finally, consideration of the circumstances and characteristics
associated with the maintenance of contact and levels of paternal involvement revealed
maternal relationship status to be an important correlate of both contact and involvement
whilst parental relationship history and circumstances surrounding the pregnancy were
additionally found to be important correlates of contact.
This thesis argues that simple dichotomies of father presence / absence can serve to mask
the complex network of relationships underlying associations between non-resident
fatherhood and child well-being. It also argues that child well-being in non-resident father
households would benefit from policies which seek to alleviate financial hardship and
support maternal mental health. It suggests that the maintenance of non-resident father-child
relationships is potentially beneficial for child well-being and argues that promotion
and support of contact and involvement in children’s early years likely requires a targeted
approach. It further argues that the role of the non-resident father should be construed
broadly to include consideration of support for the wider household in which the child
lives.