Divorced Fathers Raise Their Children by Themselves

Abstract

The present study focuses on the variables affecting the personal well-being of the father-headed family. In order to conduct the research, we developed a methodology that encompassed 103 heads of single-parent families raising their children themselves (62 divorced fathers and 41 divorced mothers). The analysis of the data from father- and mother-headed families indicates that there are no differences between the two groups with respect to well-being. The relationships between the variables were formulated into a causal model designed to forecast well-being. The research findings show that among all grou~s, an androgvnous con- cept of the sex role and a problem-6rien&d coing style (ithat order) contribute to personal well-being. In addition, the model indicates the im ortance of the economic situation for well-being. Additional vari- ab f es that comprise well-being derive from areas comecled with the role each type of family head fills in society. Contemporary society views a woman-headed single-parent family as normative: conse- quently, it offers social support similar to that usually offered to women in other crisis situations. On the other ]land, male single-par- ent family heads are still viewed as an anomaly, and therefore do not receive such support. Instead, their well-being derives from other variables: the fewer children they have and the less hostile they feel towards their former spouse, the greater their well-being.