Father Involvement:: a Guide for Non-custodial Fathers

Continued high rates of divorce and non-marital childbirths have increased the number of non-custodial fathers and present new challenges to performing traditional father roles. Only recently have judicial, family practice, and research communities viewed non-custodial fathers outside the traditional role expectation of child support compliance and acknowledged that beyond their financial contributions, father presence is important in child development. Based on the traditions of role theory (Biddle and Thomas, 1979) and self-efficacy theory (Bandura, 1997), this study examined non-custodial fathers and their involvement with their child. Study results suggest parent satisfaction had the largest direct effect on paternal involvement while co-parenting relationships had a minor effect. The large effect of parent satisfaction on paternal involvement may have been moderated by the non-custodial fathers'participation in the Erie Family Center for Child Development Fatherhood Initiatives. Implications for social work practice and social welfare policy are discussed.