Introduction
The Influence of Level of Intimacy in Father-Child Relationships of resident and nonresident father’s on the Adolescent Sexual Preference of African American Male Students
Family dynamics plays a very important role in helping to form the overall structure of our society. In recent years, there has been a significant shift in dynamics from the typical nuclear family to single parent households. According to the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics, the majority of children living with one parent lived with their single mother. About 14 percent of children living with one parent lived with their single father. This evidence also supports the growth of single-mother parent households thus bringing into question the level of involvement that fathers are allowed and able to have with their children. The US Department of Education also stated that - “Of students in grades 1 through 12, 39 percent (17.7 million) live in homes absent their biological fathers.” Further research done by the US Census Bureau showed that in 2012, “57.6% of black children, 31.2% of Hispanic children, and 20.7% of white children are living absent their biological fathers.”
This research hence states that in comparison to other racial groups African American households tend to have higher rates of fatherlessness.
Unfortunately, with the rise of single mothers, research on the importance of the father and his role in a child’s upbringing, growth and development has been of less focus and been more difficult to conduct. However, despite difficulty the necessity for such research has not been diminished. According to an article published by the US department of health and human services fathers play an irreplaceable role i...
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...," said study author and demographer Gary Gates, of the UCLA School of Law's Williams Institute.
In light of the information and research found, the researcher has proposed these research questions ; Does a father’s physical presence in the home play a significant role in the level of intimacy that occurs between a father and child and Is a significant correlation between the occurrence of fatherlessness and broken father-child relationships and homosexuality amongst African American boys?
The researchers hypothesis in relation to these questions is that adolescents with fathers who live inside the home will report a higher level of intimacy with their fathers than adolescents with fathers outside the home and adolescents who are reportedly homosexual will have a lower level of intimacy with their fathers than reported heterosexual adolescents.
...istics, 1999). McBride, Brent A., Sara K., Sullivan, and Ho-Ho (2005) reported about the achievement levels in a adolescent who grows up with a father, “A study of 1330 children from the PSID showed that fathers who are involved on a personal level with their child schooling increases the likelihood of their child's achievement. When fathers assume a positive role in their child's education, students feel a positive impact.” (p. 201-216). Children who do not grow up in a two parent homes, are more likely to fail and repeat a grade in school. It is also important to note that children who grow up in single parent families are less likely to have parents involved with the school, 62% of children with two parent homes have parents that are involved in school, while children from single parent homes have half of them involved in school (Nord, Winquist, West, 2001).
Ellis, B.J., et al. 2003. Does father absence place daughters at special risk for early sexual activity and teenage pregnancy? Child Development 74(May/June):801-821.
Fatherless has been one of the most important challenges and epidemics in our generation. The effects of growing up...
In David Blankenhorn’s book written in 1995, he brings to light what he calls “America’s fundamental problem”: our culture of fatherlessness. Our modern day view of fathers is that they are unnecessary both in society and in the upbringing of a child. Blankenhorn argues the contrary: the only way to solve the multitude of social problems present in America is to address the common denominator, the decline of fathers and the shrinking importance of fatherhood. Blankenhorn’s book is split into three parts: Part I: Fatherlessness, Part II: The Cultural Script and Part III: Fatherhood. In Fatherlessness, he provides the history of fatherhood and includes statistics that help to illustrate the transition of the father from head of the household to being “almost entirely a Sunday institution” (pg. 15).
The focus of this study is to see if infant form the same crucial attachment classifications to their fathers as they do to their mother and if the parenting style is linked to the attachment formed. Given the increase in stay-at-home fathers and the research done on the importance of early infant attachment on a child’s cognitive, social, and emotional development, it is a sound claim to make that looking at parenting styles and the attachments formed to fathers could provide great insight to an under-researched subject. It is hypothesized that parenting styles are linked to the attachment infants form to fathers, as the primary caregiver, and these attachments are much like the four identified styles found with mothers which can be observed in a strange situation.
This study examined associations among family type (same-sex vs. opposite-sex parents); family and relationship variables; and the psychosocial adjustment, school outcomes, and romantic attractions and behaviors of adolescents. Participants included 44 12- to 18-year-old adolescents parented by same-sex couples and 44 same-aged adolescents parented by opposite-sex couples, matched on demographic characteristics and drawn from a national sample. Normative analyses indicated that, on measures of psychosocial adjustment and school outcomes, adolescents were functioning well, and their adjustment was not generally associated with family type. Assessments of romantic relationships and sexual behavior were not associated with family type. Regardless of family type, adolescents whose parents described closer relationships with them reported better school adjustment.
This research paper will explore primarily the impact of African American single-parent households on the children that live in these environments. This is a very important issue and more awareness is needed. Research has provided evidence that single-parent households are one of many risk factors that can negatively affect a child’s educational outcome, emotional health and social behavior. Although not all single-parent family households have disadvantages, the focus of his study is to shed more light on the issues and offer solutions. For example, more policies are needed to reinforce fathers to pay child support. This alone will provide mothers with more money to help them better raise their children.
Since the beginning of time, fathers have had a profound effect on their child’s development. Over the years, the norm for traditional family dynamics of having a father figure in the household has changed drastically, and so did the roles of the parents. It is not as common as it used to be to have a father or father figure in the home. In this day and age, women are more likely to raise children on their own and gain independence without the male assistance due to various reasons. The most significant learning experience and development of a person’s life takes place in their earlier years when they were children. There are many advantages when there is a mother and father combined in a
The Family structure has changed significantly in the last fifty years. With higher percentages of marriage ending in divorce, and higher rates of childbearing out of wedlock, single parent families are increasing rapidly. “Seventy percent of all the children will spend all or part of their lives in a single-parent household.” (Dowd) Studies have shown that the children of these families are affected dramatically, both negatively and positively. Women head the majority of single- parent families and as a result, children experience many social problems from growing up without a father. Some of these problems include lack of financial support, and various emotional problems by not having a father around, which may contribute to problems later in life. At the same time, children of single-parent homes become more independent because they learn to take care of themselves, and rely on others to do things for them.
A father is someone who protects, loves, supports and raises his children, whether they are biologically related or not. Every single person living on the Earth has a biological father. These biological fathers are supposed to take the responsibility of being a father because they did help bring a child into this world. One of the main responsibilities of a father is providing the child with the necessities of life, which include food, shelter, and clothes. Not only is a father responsible for the physical aspect but the emotional aspect as well. Children need to feel loved, cared for, and emotional support from their parents. A child needs to be reassured, so a father must show his affection, both physically and emotionally. A father needs to be involved in his children’s life. He needs to be a problem solver, playmate, provider, preparer, and he has to have principles. A father has to pr...
Back in the day, a family consisted of a staying home wife that took care of the children and any necessary obligations in the house while the husband worked all day. Today, it is very unique for a child to be raised in a home where one parent is not involved with the family. Therefore, society’s perspective on a child raised by a single-parent, especially by moms is seen as inappropriate due to the fact, that they don’t do see the child capable of doing the same things as a child that lives with both parents in a traditional family. Even though, the child is raised by a single-mother it does not mean they will not be as successful as a child that is raised by both parents. Currently, there are many single-mothers that demonstrate each day
The role of a father in his child’s life extends past the knowledge of far too many, and can oftentimes be eclipsed by the role of the mother. Although the mother’s role is essential and greatly valued in a child’s life and development, the father plays a significant role as well. No mother can fill the father’s place in a child’s heart, for fathers nurture and play differently than a mother. Several studies show that an attendant and highly involved father is critical, especially in the early stages of a child’s life. The absence of a father during this stage can lead to “impaired social and behavioral abilities in adults” (Robert, 2013). But what is the role of the father? This paper discusses the role of the expectant father, the birth experience for him, the transition into fatherhood, and the rise of single fathers.
...ch should lead to additional investigation on a father's effect in all areas of the family. Researchers could look more deeply at the impact attachment plays in father son relationships and if or how a son's attachment to his mother was satisfying. Also, how these relationships impacted his choices of a female counterpart. Furthermore, different variables then satisfaction and attachment style could result in a deeper look at a daughter's relationship with her father and her romantic partner. Future researchers should revise this study by conducting a questionnaire to find out the comparable aspects between the father and the romantic partner. Another method that could be useful in conducting this research is an interview of the subjects. Interviews allow the researcher to obtain more personal information that could potentially affect the study in the long run.
Rowe, Daryl M. "Marriage And Fathering: Raising Our Children Within The Context Of Family And Community." Black Scholar 37.2 (2007): 18-22. Academic Search Elite. Web.
Research has already shown parent sexual orientation has no significant effect on children’s psychological adjustment in Wainright, Russell, and Patterson (2004) as well as Rivers, Poteat, and Noret (2008). There has been a stereotype that a man and a women should raise a child and if not the child would be “confused” about gender behavior, identity and sexual orientation. Wainright, Russell, and Patterson (2004) study has shown that parental sexual orientation has no effect of adolescent romantic attractions and behaviors. The results of their study show that children of same sex parents have a significant relationship quality. There was no significant difference in children’s’ general role behavior, children’s sexual orientation, gender identity, children’s’ cognitive development and psychological adjustment. Having same sex parents has no impact on a child’s gender role behavior, sexual orientation, gender identity, cognitive development and psychological adjustment. Having a same-sex parent has no impact on a child but rather the relationship that the child has with the parent no matter the parent’s sexual orientation. The relationship between the parent and the child s what can