The Effects of Communication Quality and Lack of Contact with Fathers on Subjective Health Complaints and Life Satisfaction among Parental Divorced Youth

Abstract

ABSTRACT Children and adolescents with and without parental divorce experience were assessed regarding their father–child communication quality and any lack of contact with their fathers, and the relationship with subjective health complaints and life satisfaction. A total of 4207 girls and boys between the age of 11 to 17 participated in a cross-sectional study. The findings revealed that almost 40% of the parental divorced youth had a poor father–child communication quality whereas about 10% did not have any contact with their fathers at all. Both communication quality and any lack of father–child contact were significantly related to subjective health complaints and life satisfaction. Communication quality moderated subjective health complaints only at the highest level of communication, whereas it moderated life satisfaction at all levels of communication. Thus having even a poor communication with the father, may be slightly better than no contact when it comes to life satisfaction after parental divorce. Implication of the study would be to address the risks related to poor father–child communication as well as lack of contact with the father in the aftermath of parental divorce, and emphasize the need for efficient efforts to prevent any such consequences.