Fathers' involvement and child behavior problems in poor African American single-mother families

The present study examined the effects of nonresident fathers' involvement–measured by the frequency of fathers' contact with their children and the quality of fathers' parenting–on their children's behavior problems. Using data from a subsample of African American single and non-cohabiting mothers from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing study, results indicate that more frequent contact between fathers and their child and fathers' more adequate parenting were associated indirectly with fewer child behavior problems transmitted through more adequate parenting by mothers. The quality of mothers' parenting was associated positively with the quality of the mother–father relationship and with both the quality and the frequency of the fathers' contacts with their child. Policy and practice implications are discussed.

Research Highlights► We examined the effects of fathers’ involvement on children’s behavior problems. ► Fathers’ parenting was associated with behavior problems through mothers’ parenting. ► Father-child contact was associated with behavior problems through both parents’ parenting. ► Fathers’ parenting and mother-father relations were strong factors for mothers’ parenting.