Changes in Resident Father Involvement during Adolescence and Outcomes during Emerging Adulthood

Allison Horowitz, Child Trends
Elena Kennedy, Child Trends
Kristin Moore, Child Trends
Emily Lilja, Child Trends

Using a sample of resident fathers and their adolescent youth in Rounds 1, 2, 5, and 7 of the National Longitudinal Study of Youth (NLSY97), we examined how father involvement during adolescence and changes in such involvement are associated with outcomes for emerging adults. Results indicate that support during adolescence reduces the likelihood of being disconnected in emerging adulthood, while monitoring increases the likelihood of being disconnected. Monitoring had strong effects in reducing binge drinking. Closeness increased the odds of finishing high school. Closeness and support were also significant predictors of parental referencing for relationship advice. Higher monitoring however reduced the likelihood that young adults would turn to fathers for advice. Gender interactions indicate stronger effects for sons of fathers’ monitoring on being disconnected, fathers’ support and fathers’ monitoring on binge drinking, fathers’ closeness and fathers’ monitoring on high school completion, and of fathers’ closeness on parental referencing.