The long-reach of nonresident fathers’ financial support on children’s skills in fragile families: Parental investments, family processes, and children’s language skills

Ronald Mincy, Natasha Cabrera, Elia De La Cruz Toledo and Hyunjoon Um
Additional contact information
Ronald Mincy: Columbia University
Natasha Cabrera: University of Maryland, College Park
Elia De La Cruz Toledo: University of Chicago
Hyunjoon Um: Columbia University

Working Papers from Princeton University, School of Public and International Affairs, Center for Research on Child Wellbeing.

Abstract: Using a sample of 692 children in mother-headed families drawn from the FFCWS, we examined the direct and indirect associations between nonresident fathers' financial support during early childhood and children’s cognitive, behavioral, and achievement outcomes at ages 5 and 9 through parental investments, family processes, and children’s skills at age 3. We found significant direct effects of fathers' financial support: measured continuously on children’s math and reading scores at age 9 and above the median on reading achievement at age 9. Financial support well-above the median was also significantly associated with math achievement at age 9 and both aggressive behavior and receptive vocabulary at age 5. Children’s language skills mediated the associations between financial support, measured continuously and provided through a formal order/agreement and math and reading achievement at age 9 and the association between financial support above the median and reading achievement at age 9. Most associations were small.

JEL-codes: I24 I31 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018-07
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-neu
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pri:crcwel:wp18-07-ff

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