Patterns and predictors of growth in divorced fathers' health status and substance use.
Health status and substance use trajectories are described over 18 months for a county sample of 230 divorced fathers of young children aged 4 to 11. One third of the sample was clinically depressed. Health problems, drinking, and hard drug use were stable over time for the sample, whereas depression, smoking, and marijuana use exhibited overall mean reductions. Variance components revealed significant individual differences in average levels and trajectories for health and substance use outcomes. Controlling for fathers' antisociality, negative life events, and social support, fathering identity predicted reductions in health-related problems and marijuana use. Father involvement reduced drinking and marijuana use. Antisociality was the strongest risk factor for health and substance use outcomes. Implications for application of a generative fathering perspective in practice and preventive interventions are discussed.
DeGarmo
David S
DS
Oregon Social Learning Center, Eugene, Oregon 97401-4928, USA. davidd@oslc.org
Reid
John B
JB
Leve
Leslie D
LD
Chamberlain
Patricia
P
Knutson
John F
JF
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D004243:Divorce; D005195:Family Relations; D005220:Fathers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009922:Oregon / Q000453:epidemiology; D016487:Parenting; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult