Authors: Eirini Flouri, Martina Narayanan and Emily Midouhas, University College London and University of Oslo
Published by: Child: Health, Care and Development, November 2015
SUMMARY
For this study – The Cross-lagged Relationship Between Father Absence and Child Problem Behaviour in the Early Years – the team analysed data from 15,293 participants in the UK's Millennium Cohort Study, a longitudinal survey of children born in the UK between 2000 and 2002. All children in the sample initially came from two-parent, biological families where 71 per cent of mums and dads were married. Researchers looked at data on father absence and problem behaviour at different points - when children were three, five and seven. Children's problem behaviour was measured using the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) completed by the main parent, usually the mother. This covers issues including hyperactivity, emotional and behavioural problems and how well children relate to their peers.
The study found problem behaviour in children was significantly related to the absence or presence of a father at ages three, five and seven. At the age of three, 8.6 per cent of children had an absent father. Of these, 29.8 per cent had a borderline or abnormal overall SDQ score compared with 17.9 per cent of children whose father was present.
An absent father was also found to be a predictor of future difficulties. Children whose father was absent at the age of three were more likely to have severe behaviour problems at the age of five. Children whose fathers were absent at the age of five were more likely to have severe problems at age seven.
Overall, behavioural problems in a child did not appear to increase the probability of dads not being around. However, when the researchers looked at the data more closely they found severe hyperactivity aged three was a slight predictor for dad being absent at age five, as were severe conduct and peer problems.
Family poverty, mothers' psychological distress and poor relationships between parents, as reported by mums, were significantly related to child behaviour problems. Children whose parents were married were less likely to have severe conduct and emotional problems. Having larger numbers of siblings was associated with lower levels of hyperactivity, emotional difficulties and peer problems.
While girls were less likely to have borderline or abnormal levels of hyperactivity, peer problems and conduct problems than boys, the analysis revealed no gender differences in the relationship between father absence and child problem behaviour. The only significant gender difference was at age three where boys were more likely to suffer from conduct problems if they had an absent father than girls.
IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE
These findings suggest father absence is mainly the cause rather than the outcome of child problem behaviour and affects boys and girls in a similar way. The researchers suggest father absence may influence child behaviour through a number of factors including reduced household income, the impact on the emotional and psychological health of the resident parent, and ongoing conflict. Support in these areas could lessen the effects of a father's absence on children.
FURTHER READING
The Causal Effects of Father Absence, Sara McLanahan, Laura Tach and Daniel Schneider, Annual Review of Sociology, July 2013. A literature review of robust studies investigating the effect of father absence on children.
Dad and Me: Research into the Problems Caused by Absent Fathers, Martin Glynn, published by Addaction, 2011. A qualitative study of 48 young users of Addaction services.
Poverty, Maternal Depression, Family Status and Children's Cognitive and Behavioural Development in Early Childhood: A Longitudinal Study, Kathleen Kiernan and Fiona Mensah, Journal of Social Policy, October 2009. This study examines how three aspects of early family life affect children's cognitive and behavioural development.
