Title

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

Author(s)

Ronald Mincy Ronald Mincy (Columbia University)

Natasha Cabrera Natasha Cabrera (University of Maryland, College Park)

Elia De La Cruz Toledo Elia De La Cruz Toledo (University of Chicago)

Hyunjoon Um Hyunjoon Um (Columbia University)

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.

Creation Date

2018-07

Section URL ID

Paper Number

WP18-07-FF

URL

https://fragilefamilies.princeton.edu/sites/fragilefamilies/files/wp18-07-ff.pdf

File Function

Jel

I24; I31

Keyword(s)

Suppress

false

Series

8