Understanding fatherhood
post-separation
WHO ARE TODAY’S fathers and what are they like? Using data from three large-scale UK and European surveys, researchers provide a comprehensive study of men as fathers, their contribution and role in the family as well as their employment patterns, economic activity and involvement in childrearing. Estimates suggest that five per cent of British men have a non-resident dependent child. Analysis also shows that these 980,000 non-resident fathers form a heterogeneous group in terms of their socio-demographic profile and family behaviour. The study identifies four distinct groups of non-resident fathers: ‘Engaged’ (46 per cent), ‘Less Engaged’ (28 per cent), ‘Disengaged’ (16 per cent) and ‘Distance’ (11 per cent). The majority of ‘Disengaged’ fathers have no contact, and only a minority are providing child support. In contrast, the ‘Distance’ fathers provide financial support but geographical distance limits other forms of involvement in their children’s lives. “We conclude that legislation and policy concerning fathers in post-separation families needs to be sensitive to variation as well as commonality in socio-economic conditions and family lives and situations,” says researcher Dr Svetlana Speight. n
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Contact Dr Svetlana Speight, NatCen Social Research (NatCen) Email
svetlana.speight@natcen.ac.uk Web
modernfatherhood.org Telephone 020 7549 8546 ESRC Grant Number ES/K003739/1
Childhood bullying worse than adult maltreatment
BULLYING BY PEERS adversely affects children in later life more than being maltreated by adults, according to new research from the University of Warwick.
Based on longitudinal data from the US and UK, researchers explored reports of maltreatment, bullying and mental health outcomes for more than 5,000 children. “The mental health outcomes we were looking for included anxiety, depression or suicidal tendencies,” says researcher Professor Dieter Wolke. “Our results showed those who were bullied were more likely to suffer from mental health problems than those who were maltreated.” These findings add to Professor
Wolke’s growing body of evidence highlighting the long shadow cast by childhood and sibling bullying on mental and physical wellbeing in later life. Evidence suggests that 20 per cent of children and 12 per cent of adolescents report bullying at school. Sibling bullying is also found in up to half of all UK households with adolescents.
8 SOCIETY NOW SUMMER 2015
“While the influence of parenting on child outcomes has received plenty of attention, many fail to appreciate that by the age of 18 children have spent far more time with peers and siblings than their parents,” says Professor Wolke. Time spent with peers, if characterised by aggression and systemic abuse of power, is likely to increase the risk of poorer physical and mental health, wealth and social relationships in adulthood. “Being bullied is not a harmless
rite of passage or an inevitable part of growing up; it has serious long-term consequences,” explains Professor Wolke. “It is important for schools, health services and other agencies to work together to reduce bullying and the adverse effects related to it.” n
i Contact Professor Dieter Wolke,
University of Warwick Email
d.wolke@warwick.ac.uk Web
www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/psych/ research/lifespan/dw Telephone 07824 358737 ESRC Grant Number ES/K003593/1
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