Patterns and Predictors of Growth in Divorced Fathers’ Health Status and Substance Use

Abstract

Health status and substance use trajectories are described over 18 months for a county sample of 230 divorced fathers of young children aged 4 to 11. One third of the sample was clinically depressed. Health problems, drinking, and hard drug use were stable over time for the sample, whereas depression, smoking, and marijuana use exhibited overall mean reductions. Variance components revealed significant individual differences in average levels and trajectories for health and substance use outcomes. Controlling for fathers' antisociality, negative life events, and social support, fathering identity predicted reductions in health-related problems and marijuana use. Father involvement reduced drinking and marijuana use. Antisociality was the strongest risk factor for health and substance use outcomes. Implications for application of a generative fathering perspective in practice and preventive interventions are discussed. Keywordsgeneral health and wellness; depression; alcohol use; drug use; divorced fathers Epidemiological evidence shows that divorce is linked to greater mental and physical health problems, including depression and anxiety (Bruce, 1998), and disproportionately high rates of vehicle accidents, alcoholism, suicide, and homicide (Blazer, Kessler, McGonagle, & Swartz, 1994;Bruce, 1998;Kitson & Morgan, 1990). Furthermore, recent evidence from the National Health Interview Survey indicates that health differentials between divorced and married adults have increased over the past three decades (Liu & Umberson, 2008). Many of these health disparities can be more severe for men. Divorced men are more likely than males of any other marital status to engage in health-compromising behaviors such as substance use and drinking and driving (Umberson & Williams, 1993), and the mortality rate differential between divorced and married men is greatest for causes of death involving behavioral components such as suicide and accidents (Koskinen & Martelin, 1994).Despite the growing evidence for health disparities in divorced men, little is known about factors associated with the health status of divorced fathers. Regarding substance use and abuse, research on alcohol and drug use with men has largely neglected the role of fathering and parenting roles (Parke, 2002;Phares, 2002), resulting in experts calling for a better understanding of how drug and alcohol abuse contributes to compromised fathering and in turn how father characteristics and stressors are associated with maintenance and growth in substance abuse over time (McMahon & Rounsaville, 2002). Given that men's health is Address correspondence to: David S. DeGarmo, PhD, Oregon Social Learning Center, 10 Shelton McMurphey Boulevard, Eugene, OR 97401-4928; e-mail: davidd@oslc.org. NIH Public Access Author ManuscriptAm J Mens Health. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2010 March 1. NIH-PA Author ManuscriptNIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript inexorably linked to the health and well-being of women and children in families (Bonhomme, 2007), di...

Health Risks of Separated or Divorced Over-Indebted Fathers: Separation From Children and Financial Distress

“…These results correspond to existing findings that point toward a precarious health condition among both separated fathers (Hetherington et al, 1982;Jacobs, 1982;Hu & Goldmann, 1990;Ringbäck Weitoft et al, 2004;DeGarmo et al 2010) and over-indebted persons, as a specific group with low socioeconomic status (Münster et al, 2007).…”

“…Men are therefore particularly prone to adopt a high-risk lifestyle after separation or divorce (Hetherington, Cox, & Cox, 1982). At the same time, there is evidence that continuing contact with the children can increase the father's Downloaded by [University of Illinois Chicago] at 10:53 17 November 2014 feelings of competency and self-respect and reduce adaptive difficulties (Dunn, 2004) as well as problematic lifestyles such as drinking and marijuana use (DeGarmo, Reid, Leve, Chamberlain, & Knutson, 2010) after divorce.…”

The Effect of Depressive Symptoms on Low-Income Men in Responsible Fathering Programs

“…These are much higher percentages than the most recent estimates of current prevalence of major and other depression in men in the United States, which is 3.3% and 4.8%, respectively (CDC, 2010). These findings are also consistent with all of the literature that suggests rates of depression are higher among men experiencing unemployment, low income, low education, incarceration, or stressed relationships, and with an emergent body of work on high levels of depressive symptoms among men in assistance programs (DeGarmo, Reid, Leve, Chamberlain, & Knutson, 2010;Kim, Han, Hill, Rose, & Roary, 2003;Mendelson, Turner, & Tandon, 2010).…”

Treatment Outcomes and Mediators of Parent Management Training: A One-Year Follow-Up of Children with Conduct Problems

“…Social support was assessed with a 16-item condensed version of the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (Cohen & Hoberman, 1983). The shortened version was proven to be valid and useful in a study of divorced fathers in which support was associated with less morbidity and less depression among divorced fathers (DeGarmo, Reid, Leve, Chamberlain, & Knutson, 2009). The primary caregiver rated the availability of different types of social support.…”