Boston College researchers find that children whose nonresident fathers are involved in their lives are less likely to abuse drugs or alcohol, commit violence or property crime, or to have problems in school. According to Boston College:
“Fathers who do not live with their children can still have a positive effect on them if they stay involved in their lives, according to researchers at Boston College.
“A study in the January/February issue of the journal Child Development found that when nonresident fathers are involved with their adolescent children, the youths are less likely to take part in delinquent behavior such as drug and alcohol use, violence, property crime and school problems like truancy and cheating.
“‘Nonresident fathers in low-income, minority families appear to be an important protective factor for adolescents,’ said Rebekah Levine Coley, professor of applied development and educational psychology at Boston College and the study’s lead author.
“Greater involvement from fathers may help adolescents develop self-control and self-competence, and may decrease the opportunities adolescents have to engage in problem behaviors.” (more…)
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