Children of fathers involved in school activities were more likely to have good grades, enjoy school, participate in extra-curricular activities, and have a reduced likelihood of expulsion and suspension. A 26 year study found paternal involvement to be the key factor in developing compassionate empathy as an adult. Paternal involvement promotes higher self-esteem and greater sociability in children. Involved fathers are more likely to have children who are academically successful and attend college. Fathers who temporarily get off the career track to pursue family involvement are at the same level of career advancement as their non-involved peers five years later.
Involved fathers correlate with reduced adolescent pregnancy.
Students living in homes without fathers were less likely to have peers who believe in working hard for good grades, and in behaving well at school. Children of never-married mothers are more than twice as likely to be treated for an emotional or behavioral problem. In reanalyzing data from a 1950's study of 500 delinquent and 500 non-delinquent youth, it was found that the low level of supervision of adolescents frequently found in fatherless homes was more the cause of delinquency than poverty. Children who live apart from their fathers are 4.3 times more likely to smoke cigarettes as teenagers. Back to Information About Fatherhood Jump to the Home Page .