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The impact of fathers on maltreated youths' mental health

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  • Ayer, Lynsay
  • Kohl, Patricia
  • Malsberger, Rosalie
  • Burgette, Lane

Abstract

Men are increasingly the heads of single parent households, yet are often excluded from child welfare research and practice. To better serve all families in the child welfare system, it is necessary to understand the impact of primary caregiving men on children's wellbeing. In this study we investigated the longitudinal effects of primary caregiving fathers' mental health and substance use on child mental health, and examined possible differences by child age and gender. Regression analyses were conducted with the sample of 322 youth living with a male primary caregiver at the first wave of data collection from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Wellbeing-II (NSCAW-II). We found that father depression at baseline consistently predicted child mental health outcomes three years later, even after accounting for demographics and baseline child mental health. Surprisingly, fathers' substance use did not predict child mental health, and interactions with child age and gender were not significant. Our findings are consistent with a small but growing literature suggesting that efforts to improve engagement of and attention to fathers within research, clinical and policy efforts are likely to be worthwhile.

Suggested Citation

  • Ayer, Lynsay & Kohl, Patricia & Malsberger, Rosalie & Burgette, Lane, 2016. "The impact of fathers on maltreated youths' mental health," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 16-20.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:63:y:2016:i:c:p:16-20
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.02.006
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zanoni, Lee & Warburton, Wayne & Bussey, Kay & McMaugh, Anne, 2014. "Are all fathers in child protection families uncommitted, uninvolved and unable to change?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 83-94.
    2. Strega, Susan & Fleet, Claire & Brown, Leslie & Dominelli, Lena & Callahan, Marilyn & Walmsley, Christopher, 2008. "Connecting father absence and mother blame in child welfare policies and practice," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(7), pages 705-716, July.
    3. Bender, Kimberly, 2010. "Why do some maltreated youth become juvenile offenders?: A call for further investigation and adaptation of youth services," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(3), pages 466-473, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Emma Moran & Carmel Bradshaw & Teresa Tuohy & Maria Noonan, 2021. "The Paternal Experience of Fear of Childbirth: An Integrative Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-20, January.

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