Father Involvement
Research consistently confirms that it is more beneficial for children when both parents are present and are actively involved in their lives. Even so, the absence of fathers from many homes continues to be a major problem in the United States. Some fathers do continue to be actively involved in their children’s lives following divorce. However, there is the tendency for some to become less supportive and less involved. Furthermore, there are concerns that some mothers might also be making it rather difficult for some willing fathers to fulfill their paternal obligations. Studies show that most Americans view the issue of absent fathers as a most significant social problem and that America leads the world when it comes to the number of families that are without fathers. Other findings suggest the following regarding children who are raised without fathers.
They are more likely to:
1. experience poverty
2. be abused
3. become delinquent
4. drop out of school
5. use drugs and alcohol
6. engage in early sexual activity (girls more likely to become pregnant as teenagers)
7. exhibit behavioral problems
8. commit suicide
On the other hand, studies also affirm that children who are raised with fathers who are present and who are actively involved in their lives, tend to:
1. be more empathetic and loving
2. exhibit fewer behavior problems
3. be less likely to use drugs
4. do much better academically
5. are less likely to become gang members
6. engage in sexual activity later in life
