Nonresidential Father Involvement: A Test of a Mid-Range Theory

Abstract

This study tested a theoretical model of postdivorce involvement of nonresidential fathers with their children. The hypotheses were (a) that postdivorce father involvement is related to father parenting role identity, role clarity, child relationship quality, and father role hierarchy ranking; and (b) that several variables serve as moderators for the relationship between father parenting role identity and father involvement. Data were collected via self-report questionnaires administered to 101 fathers. Path analytic techniques were used to assess the theoretical model. Findings supported the hypotheses related to the core constructs within the theory, but not for the moderator variables within the study. Role clarity and child relationship quality were found to have both direct and indirect effects on father involvement. Father parenting role identity had a direct effect on father involvement but also functioned as a meditating variable for constructs within the model. Significant paths were found for two variables, joint custody and satisfaction with the legal system. Father postdivorce involvement is a complex phenomenon, and forces external to fathers can contribute to levels of postdivorce involvement (e.g., legal system issues).

Parental Depression, Relationship Quality, and Nonresident Father Involvement With Their Infants

“…Moreover, research on nonresident fathers has paid little attention to the association between fathers' mental health and interactions with their children. In the only known study examining paternal depressive symptoms and father involvement following divorce, Stone and McKenry (1998) investigated paternal depression as a moderator of the fathers' identification with the parental role and involvement with his child, finding it to be nonsignificant.…”

Fathers’ Involvement with their Preschool-age Children: How Fathers Spend Time with Their Children in Different Family Structures

“…Perloff and Buckner (1996) found that 84% of fathers who did not reside with their children spent time with them at least once a month. Fathers with joint custody interacted with their children more often than did fathers without custody (Stone and McKenry 1998). The relationship between a non-traditional family structure and fatherhood has rarely been addressed in the literature.…”

Implicit Motives and Men’s Perceived Constraint in Fatherhood

“…Correspondingly, fatherhood had a potentially buffering effect against work-related stress (Barnett et al, 1992; Haar and Bardoel, 2008). Moreover, holding a strong parental role identity and having positive role perceptions were related to the amount and quality of parenting behavior (Stone and McKenry, 1998; Rane and McBride, 2000; Bronte-Tinkew et al, 2006). In conclusion, occupying a paternal role is accompanied by varying degrees of perceived constraint as well as fulfillment and in turn, has negative or positive consequences for men’s well-being.…”