POVERTY, PATERNAL INVOLVEMENT, AND ADOLESCENT WELL-BEING

In this article, we explore the role that parents play in family proce sses in poor and nonpoor two-parent families and the extent to which p aternal participation varies across family income. Using longitudinal data from the National Survey of Children, we observe patterns of pove rty over time in childhood and adolescence and examine whether father involvement buffets the effects of poverty on long-term outcomes of ad olescents. We measure emotional and behavioral dimensions of Parenting and contrast levels of father involvement with levels of mother invol vement in their relations with adolescents across poverty experiences. Fathers in poor and welfare families are less involved with youth in adolescence and the greater the persistence of poverty, the less invol vement by fathers. Although we document some buffering effects of fath ers in poor families, mother involvement plays a more important role i n protecting low-income youth from adverse outcomes.