Adolescents between the ages of have higher self-esteem and less depression when they have greater intimacy with their fathers. Field T, et al. (1995). Adolescents’ intimacy with parents and friends. Adolescence, 30(117):

 In a study of third and fourth graders, a father’s provision of warmth and control was positively related to higher academic achievement.  Greater father involvement also reduces the likelihood that children in 6th through 12th grade have ever been suspended or expelled from school. Coley RL, (1998). Children’s socialization experiences and functioning in single-mother households: The importance of fathers and other men. Child Development, 69:

According to a study by the Department of Education, when fathers are actively involved with their children, the children:  Have higher school performance  Have higher SAT scores  Have 38% higher grades  Demonstrate greater ambition  Participate in extracurricular activities  Enroll in college at a higher rate (daughters specifically) U.S. Dept. of Education, National Center for Educational Statistics. Father Involvement for Healthy Child Outcomes: Partners Supporting Knowledge Development and Transfer, March 1, 2007.

Research tells us that a father influences his children in many ways, including:  The intellectual ability of his children  The behavior of his children  His children’s ethnic heritage  The occupational choices his children will make  The ways his children will parent their children FATHER FACTS, 6TH EDITION © 2011 National Fatherhood Initiative

A Father can bring his child:  Emotional well being  Increased financial stability  Involvement of paternal kin  Expanded cultural ties  Knowledge of family medical history

What the research shows in the US: In 1960, 8 million children lived apart from their fathers. Today, over 24 million children live in homes without their fathers. One out of every three children in the U.S. lives apart from their father. --U.S. Census Bureau 2010 Of children with non-resident fathers:  17% visit their fathers at least once a week  50% have seen their father in the last year but less than weekly  33% have not seen their father in the past year --Fagan J, Laughlin L, & Farrie D, (2009). Involvement with children following marital and non- marital separations. Fathering, 7: Children in Father-Absent Homes: In 2009, the U.S. Census found that approximately one in four U.S. children (about 17 million) lived with their mother but without their father. --Kreider RM, & Ellis R, (2011). Living Arrangements of Children: Current Population Reports, P U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, DC. Father Absence

Effects on Mothers Pregnant mothers without the child’s father in the home are:  70% less likely to obtain prenatal care  More likely to experience depression  Less likely to breastfeed Albrecht C, & Teachman JD, (2003). Childhood living arrangements and risk of premarital Intercourse. Journal of Family Issues, 24:

The Impact of Father Absence on Children’s Well-Being / Social Behavior Children whose biological fathers are absent are 2-3 times more likely:  to be poor  to use drugs  to experience educational problems  to have health problems  to have emotional problems  to have behavioral problems  to be victims of child abuse  to engage in more criminal behavior …than their peers who live with their married biological parents (or adoptive parents). Horn W, & Sylvester T, (2002). Father facts (4th ed). Gaithersburg, MD: National Fatherhood Initiative.

Youth in father-absent households have significantly higher odds of incarceration than those in homes with both a mom and a dad. Harper CC, & McLanahan SS, (2004). Father absence and youth incarceration. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 14:

Children with involved, loving fathers are significantly more likely to:  do well in school  have healthy self esteem  exhibit empathy and pro-social behavior  avoid high risk behaviors such as drug use  avoid truancy  avoid being involved in criminal activity …compared to children who have uninvolved fathers. --Horn W, & Sylvester T, (2002). Father facts (4th ed.). Gaithersburg, MD: National Fatherhood Initiative.

When fathers are not involved:  Children are 2 times more likely to drop out of school  Students are 2 times more likely to repeat a grade in school

The Impact of Fathers on Cognitive Ability and Educational Achievement “A number of studies suggest that fathers who are involved, nurturing and playful with their infants have children with higher IQs, as well as better linguistic and cognitive capacities.” Rosenberg J, (2006). Fathers and their impact on children’s well-being. Child Welfare Information Gateway.

Societal Factors That Influence the Development of Manhood & Fatherhood  Expression of emotions is discouraged  Anger is an acceptable male emotion  Drive to be dominant  Being physically strong  Pressure to be an economic success Shears J, & Furman R, (2008) Working with fathers: A review of the literature. University of North Carolina- Charlotte.