Fathers' criminal behavior and interactions with children: the moderating role of family relationships

Document Type : Translation

Author

Lecturer at ghalib university of kabul/phd canidate at allameh tabatabayi university

10.22034/cr7.2023.100162.1013

Abstract

Research indicates that fathers’ criminal behavior can be
problematic for children through multiple pathways, yet few studies have examined the effect of fathers’ kinship networks in this process. This study examines
the association between fathers’ criminal behavior and involvement with their
children and the extent to which a father’s relationships with individuals in his extended family network moderate this association. Method: Hierarchical linear modeling was used to predict fathers’ involvement using data from a longitudinal intergenerational study of 335 children and 149 low-income, minority fathers. Measures
included 8 father-involvement outcomes, a measure of fathers’ criminal behavior,
and 2 moderator variables. Results: High-quality relationships between fathers and
their male relatives moderated the negative effect of criminal behavior on measures
of fathers’ involvement. Criminal behavior was only associated with decreasing levels
of father involvement when fathers had low-quality relationships with male relatives.
Conclusions: Strong and affirmative relationships—with male relatives specifically—
may attenuate the adverse effects of antisocial and criminal behavior on fathers’
involvement in at-risk families. Implications for tailoring practice to improve relationships between fathers and male relatives and to enhance fathers’ prosocial involvement are noted.

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