Single Custodial Fathers and the Parent-Child Relationship

Abstract

This exploratory study was designed to investigate the relationship between selected background characteristics of single fathers and the quality of existing parent-child relationships, to see if background characteristics could be used to predict father-child nurturance. Correlations between the social class of the fathers and the history of their relations with their own fathers were not statistically significant. However, the reason for their having custody of their children (seeking it or assenting to it) appears to be worth further investigation. The results of this study have ramifications for nursing. Nursing educators need to acknowledge the advent of the single-family structure (as well as other alternative family configurations different from the traditional nuclear family) when planning the curriculum for nursing students. The increasing involvement and importance of the male as a parent must be given due consideration. Married fathers and single fathers (with or without custody) can and do play an important role in the lives of their children. Let us not lose sight of this important member of the parenting team.