Father Absence and Adolescent Depression and Delinquency: A Comparison of Siblings Approach. Issue 5 (8th August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Markowitz, Anna J.; Ryan, Rebecca M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of marriage and family. Volume 78:Issue 5(2016:Aug.)
• Page Start: 1300
• Page End: 1314
• Publication Date: 2016-08-08
• Subjects: antisocial behavior -- development/outcomes -- fatherhood -- National Longitudinal Study of Youth -- single‐parent families; Family -- Periodicals; Marriage -- Periodicals; 306.805
• DOI: 10.1111/jomf.12343
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-2445

Abstract

Abstract : Although associations between having a nonresident father and increased internalizing and externalizing behaviors in adolescence have been well documented, research has yet to establish the plausible causality of these links or identify underlying mechanisms. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 ‐ Young Adult survey, this study addresses these questions by comparing the depressive symptoms and delinquent behavior of siblings discordant for age at father departure. Findings indicate that father departure later in childhood is associated with increased adolescent delinquency but not depressive symptoms, whereas early childhood father departure was not associated with adolescent outcomes. Both findings suggests that parental monitoring—rather than socialization or emotional distress—may account for links between father departure and adolescent delinquency.