A new study cited in Contexts Magazine suggests that non-involvement of divorced fathers in kids’ school work isn’t a one-way street. I haven’t seen the study yet, but it doesn’t look like non-involvement *causes* poor grades. On the contrary. . .
A new study finds the behavior of adolescent children plays an important role in keeping the lines of communication open.
Daniel N. Hawkins, Paul R. Amato, and Valarie King (American Sociological Review, December 2007) found that happy adolescents with fewer problems inspire, rather than result from, their non-resident fathers’ active involvement in their lives. [emphasis mine] Fathers are especially likely to get involved when their teens are doing well in school.
Active dads influence their adolescents’ well-being when they live together. But when they live apart, the researchers speculate, the system of mutual influence breaks down. Clearly, the parent-child relationship is not a simple one-way street.
Filed under: fatherlessness, kids, life, solo life , adolescent children, Contexts Magazine, divorced fathers, non-involvement, parent-child relationship
