Relations Among Father's Presence, Family Conflict, and Adolescent Adjustment in Northern Ireland

Justin M. Luningham, Christine E. Merrilees, Laura K. Taylor, Marcie Goeke-Morey, Peter Shirlow, Bethany Wentz, E. Mark Cummings

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Burgeoning evidence identifies the influence of fathers and, relatedly, fathers in the family context (e.g., family conflict), on adolescent adjustment. However, little is known about the significance of fathers’ presence in contexts of environmental risk. In a unique social–political context of economic and sociopolitical adversity, this study examined relations between adolescent adjustment, fathers’ presence, and family conflict in families in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Based on responses from 999 adolescents (M = 12.18 years; SD = 1.82) and their mothers, participating from 2006 to 2012, fathers’ presence was linked with reduced internalizing symptoms, and family conflict was related to both internalizing and externalizing problems. The discussion considers the implications for understanding family dynamics related to adolescent adjustment in contexts of environmental adversity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)904-918
Number of pages15
JournalChild Development
Volume92
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 May 2021

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