Fatherless Children: Impact on Development and Society

Introduction and Overview

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 1 out of every 3 children lives in a home without a father. Fatherless children represent a growing epidemic within many developed countries in the world. As evidence suggests, children without a two-parent household often suffer significantly relative to their counterparts in many areas of achievement. Additionally, children without a father tend to lag behind from socioeconomic standpoints as well as academically. These problems tend to compound themselves throughout the child's adolescent and adult life. Problems such as fatherless childhood have implications not only for the immediate family but for society in general. The costs borne by society include those associated with increased crime, lack of productivity in the workplace, lower socioeconomic status, and higher overall stress levels. What was originally a problem of fatherless children has now become a lesser-known epidemic within the developed world. This document is designed to provide research-based discussions regarding the implications of childhood without a father, with emphasis placed on both societal and immediate family impacts. After reviewing pertinent literature, the document explains the rationale for including the research within the overall report and concludes with a discussion of the research methodology to be used in the research proposal.

Father Involvement and Child Development

It is without question that children with fathers perform better across many measures of social well-being compared to their fatherless counterparts. The literature regarding this issue is compelling and points to even deeper underlying issues. A study constructed by Howard, Lefever, and Borkowski quantified the impact of a father's influence on a child. The researchers examined father involvement with 134 children of adolescent mothers over the first 10 years of their lives. Their findings were striking: father-child contact was associated with better socioeconomic and academic functioning. Children with fathers experience lower likelihood of behavioral problems in the future. According to the research, children also scored higher on cognitive tests and reading assessments. In particular, the evidence suggests that children with higher math and reading skills tend to be more successful later in life. For example, students with a father who have high reading scores are 38% more likely to attend college. Additionally, these children tend to earn higher than the median household income with respect to their job prospects. The evidence from this study indicates that fathers impact not only the immediate growth of children but also their growth far into the future. The evidence suggests that a compounding impact occurs as a result of father involvement. The initial benefit of having a two-parent household, although small initially, compounds itself relatively quickly over the course of the child's life. Higher scores, higher achievement, higher wages, and a more fulfilling life are natural byproducts of this compounding impact.

Parenting Style and Behavioral Outcomes

Recent research has also examined the overall parenting style of the father and its subsequent impact on the child. A study based on the National Longitudinal Study of Youth revealed information regarding parenting style and delinquencies. The results were particularly clear: positive father-child relationships help reduce risky behavior. More revealing was the finding that authoritative parenting actually increased the risk of delinquent behavior. When combining these two results, two theories emerge. First, although having a father within a child's life is important, the style used by the parent can be detrimental to child development. Through this research finding, it appears that permissive parenting provided children with experiences allowing them to engage in less risky behavior. Particularly with father figures, a presence is needed; however, this presence must not be authoritarian. By allowing children to make mistakes, learn, and grow, their overall cognitive abilities manifest themselves.

Socioeconomic Impact and Family Structure

A father figure within a child's life has also proven beneficial from a socioeconomic standpoint. Research from the U.S. Census Bureau has indicated that children in father-absent homes are nearly four times more likely to be poor, defined as living at or below the poverty line. This fact stands in stark contrast to only twelve percent of married-couple families living in poverty. Even more alarming is that between 1970 and 1996, nearly all increases in child poverty can be attributed to increases in single-parent families. The causes are varied, with many citing high poverty rates due to multiple-partner fertility and relationship instability. The inability for families to remain together has strong implications for children within the relationship from both financial and behavioral standpoints. In many instances, children appear to believe that financial difficulties and separation were a direct result of their own behavior. These children tend to develop risky social and cognitive behaviors. They also tend to lag further behind their counterparts in reading and math scores. The distractions from multiple-partner fertility also make it difficult for both parents to raise a child as other third-party individuals enter the relationship. A new boyfriend or girlfriend may create additional anxiety within the two-parent relationship with the child.

Community-Level Effects and Crime

The above research is critical as it provides insights into the fundamental problem of entire communities without fathers. A study conducted by Knoester and Hayne found that children within communities with a low proportion of fathers are highly prone to commit violent acts. This research speaks to the growing number of communities without the influence of a father, which can be particularly detrimental during the child's adolescent years. The statistical data showed that a 1 percent increase in the proportion of single-parent families in a neighborhood is associated with a 3 percent increase in an adolescent's level of violence. Higher levels of family integration lower overall teen violence in young children. Adolescents, particularly males, were also at higher risk of status and property delinquency. The impacts on fatherless children extend even to school. Research by Amy Anderson indicates that students attending schools with a high proportion of children from single-parent families are at higher risk of delinquencies. Interpol studies have also confirmed these research findings. By studying the crime statistics of 39 countries, Interpol was able to establish correlations between violent crimes and the ratio of single-parent households. According to Interpol, this relationship did not exist two decades ago. It appears, as stated in the introduction, that fatherless children have now become an epidemic that did not exist in the past, particularly given the propensity of children growing up without a male figure within the household and the corresponding implications this has on their overall development.

Research Logic and Rationale

The logic behind the need for the above research is relatively straightforward. The connection between fatherhood and child development appears very clear. As it relates to behavior, socioeconomic status, and overall well-being, the father plays a dynamic and integral role. However, research has also shown that the overall parenting style of the father has a direct correlation to childhood growth. The research will attempt to provide insights not only into the relationship a father has with his children but also how that style of parenting correlates to growth. A fatherless child, as the above research suggests, will not be as successful as one who has a father, particularly for males just entering the adolescent stage. The logic behind the research therefore supports this notion and the need for further investigation.