Abstract
ObjectiveThis study investigates how different patterns of nonresident father support for children and mothers in the early years predict middle childhood adjustment, and whether grandparent support has compensating effects.BackgroundNonresident fathers' involvement in children's lives benefits socio‐emotional adjustment, but it is unclear whether support directed at children is compromised by interparental tensions, or whether other factors may compensate for weaker patterns of father support.MethodLatent class analyses identified patterns of nonresident father support for single mothers and their 34‐month‐old child (None 35%, Low 16%, Moderate 21%, High 28%) and grandparent support (Low 15%, Moderate Maternal 33%, High Maternal 43%, High Maternal and Paternal 9%), using a sample of 648 families from the Growing Up in Scotland cohort. Effects of father support on children's internalizing and externalizing problems from age 46 to 122 months were explored (n = 352), together with moderating effects of grandparent support.ResultsLow, Moderate and No father support had similar estimated effects on higher externalizing and internalizing problem levels, and steeper increases in internalizing problems. Compared to Low grandparent support, High Maternal and Paternal grandparent support reduced effects of weaker father support on both types of problem; and was more protective than High Maternal grandparent support against internalizing problems.ConclusionWeaker patterns of nonresident father support in early childhood, characterized by low involvement and interparental tensions or by no contact, were associated with poorer middle childhood adjustment. Support from both sets of grandparents offered children most protection against the effects of weaker father support.
Highlights
MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Berkeley Square, 99 Berkeley Street, Glasgow G3 7HR, UK
To examine our first hypothesis, we explored associations between nonresident father support at 34 months and problem trajectories, after adjusting for baseline covariates and partner separation history
The study found that high levels of grandparent support in early childhood buffered the adverse effects of weaker nonresident father support, with most protection offered by support involving both maternal and paternal grandparents
Summary
Data were from the first birth cohort of the Growing Up in Scotland study, a nationally representative cohort of families with children born between June 2004 and May 2005 (ScotCen Social Research, 2019). Details of the sampling framework are provided elsewhere (Bradshaw et al, 2007). Data collection was subject to medical ethical review by the Scotland “A” MREC committee. Families throughout Scotland were first interviewed (n = 5,217) when children were 10 months old, and followed up at 22, 34, 46, 58, 70, 94, and 122 months (from 2005/2006 to 2014/2015). Home interviews were conducted with the child’s main carer, supplemented by researcher assessments. At 94 and 122 months, information was collected from children using an audio computer-assisted self-completion questionnaire, and (at 122 months) from the child’s primary school class teacher
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