Educational outcomes of children with absent-fathers: an examination of children with deceased fathers and children with fathers absent for other reasons compared with children with fathers present in a two-parent home

Abstract

<p>Educational outcomes for children with fathers absent due to death and those absent for other reasons were examined with children from two-parent homes using the Adolescent Health data. Children without fathers for any reason completed a year less of school than children living with two parents. Children with deceased fathers and children with fathers absent for other reasons did not differ in the amount of education each completed. There was no association between the child's age when the father died and the amount of education completed, but there was a small relationship between the length of time a child has been without a deceased father and their highest level of education. Children with fathers absent for other reasons were found to have lower rates of graduating high school and college when compared to children with two parents, while children with deceased fathers did not.</p>