Abstract
Research suggests that high parental support and control improves children’s well-being. However, a large part of these studies
have focused on the parenting of married parents. Research on parenting after a divorce, mainly has focused on parenting of
divorced mothers, with few exceptions concentrating primarily on non-residential fathers. Therefore, we compared both parenting
dimensions support and control of fathers in different family structures (non-residential fathers, fathers in joint custody
and married fathers). We also investigated the association between fathers’ parenting dimensions and children’s self-esteem,
controlled for the parenting dimensions of the mother. Data from 587 children (50 % girls) between 10 and 18 years old and
their parents were examined. Results revealed that non-residential fathers (n = 225) were less supportive and controlling than fathers in joint custody (n = 138) and married fathers (n = 224). Nevertheless, having a supportive father was beneficial to children’s self-esteem in each family structure. We conclude
that, even after a divorce, fathers have the capacity to enhance children’s self-esteem and we suggest that future research
should investigate this capacity.
have focused on the parenting of married parents. Research on parenting after a divorce, mainly has focused on parenting of
divorced mothers, with few exceptions concentrating primarily on non-residential fathers. Therefore, we compared both parenting
dimensions support and control of fathers in different family structures (non-residential fathers, fathers in joint custody
and married fathers). We also investigated the association between fathers’ parenting dimensions and children’s self-esteem,
controlled for the parenting dimensions of the mother. Data from 587 children (50 % girls) between 10 and 18 years old and
their parents were examined. Results revealed that non-residential fathers (n = 225) were less supportive and controlling than fathers in joint custody (n = 138) and married fathers (n = 224). Nevertheless, having a supportive father was beneficial to children’s self-esteem in each family structure. We conclude
that, even after a divorce, fathers have the capacity to enhance children’s self-esteem and we suggest that future research
should investigate this capacity.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Empirical Research
- Pages 1-14
- DOI 10.1007/s10964-012-9783-6
- Authors
- Kim Bastaits, Research Centre for Longitudinal and Life Course Studies (CELLO), University of Antwerp, Sint-Jacobsstreet 2, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
- Koen Ponnet, Research Centre for Longitudinal and Life Course Studies (CELLO)–Media and ICT in Organisations & Society (MIOS), University of Antwerp, Sint-Jacobsstreet 2, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
- Dimitri Mortelmans, Research Centre for Longitudinal and Life Course Studies (CELLO), University of Antwerp, Sint-Jacobsstreet 2, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
- Journal Journal of Youth and Adolescence
- Online ISSN 1573-6601
- Print ISSN 0047-2891