The Intergenerational Continuity of Fathers' Absence in a Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Sample

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Bibliographic Details
Title: The Intergenerational Continuity of Fathers' Absence in a Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Sample
Language: English
Authors: Pougnet, Erin, Serbin, Lisa A., Stack, Dale M.
Source: Journal of Marriage and Family. Jun 2012 74(3):540-555.
Availability: Wiley-Blackwell. 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148. Tel: 800-835-6770; Tel: 781-388-8598; Fax: 781-388-8232; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Physical Description: PDF
Page Count: 16
Publication Date: 2012
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Substance Abuse, Females, Disadvantaged, Children, Fathers, Longitudinal Studies, One Parent Family, Structural Equation Models, Aggression, Education, Influences, At Risk Persons, Correlation
DOI: 10.1111/j.1741-3737.2012.00962.x/abstract
ISSN: 0022-2445
Abstract: Fathers' absence is a pattern that shows intergenerational continuity, most notably within disadvantaged populations. The process whereby this pattern is repeated across generations is not well understood. Using data from the Concordia Longitudinal Risk Project, the authors investigated pathways between fathers' absence in 1 generation and the experience of fathers' absence by their children. The current sample included 386 socioeconomically at-risk individuals across 2 waves of data collection: (a) when they were children and (b) when they were adults with their own children. Analyses based on structural equation modeling revealed that men whose fathers were absent when they were children were more likely to become absent fathers, and women whose fathers were absent when they were children were more likely to have children with absent partners. Indirect pathways between fathers' absence in 2 generations through aggression, education, and substance abuse were illustrated for women. These findings add to the literature suggesting that fathers' absence during childhood has intergenerational effects.
Abstractor: As Provided
Number of References: 71
Entry Date: 2012
Accession Number: EJ967202
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:Fathers' absence is a pattern that shows intergenerational continuity, most notably within disadvantaged populations. The process whereby this pattern is repeated across generations is not well understood. Using data from the Concordia Longitudinal Risk Project, the authors investigated pathways between fathers' absence in 1 generation and the experience of fathers' absence by their children. The current sample included 386 socioeconomically at-risk individuals across 2 waves of data collection: (a) when they were children and (b) when they were adults with their own children. Analyses based on structural equation modeling revealed that men whose fathers were absent when they were children were more likely to become absent fathers, and women whose fathers were absent when they were children were more likely to have children with absent partners. Indirect pathways between fathers' absence in 2 generations through aggression, education, and substance abuse were illustrated for women. These findings add to the literature suggesting that fathers' absence during childhood has intergenerational effects.
ISSN:0022-2445
DOI:10.1111/j.1741-3737.2012.00962.x/abstract