Influence of non-resident father-child contact on mother’s wellbeing

Abstract

In this study we did research on the influence of father-child contact after a divorce on mother’s wellbeing. Since the amount of divorces has increased from 12,1% till 36,5% between 1971 and 2011, many researchers examined the effects caused by the dissolution of the family. They emphasized the importance of non-residential father-child contact for the wellbeing of both. But how does this contact influence mother’s wellbeing? On the basis of the research theory we stated three hypotheses. The first hypothesis predicted a positive effect of father-child contact on mother’s wellbeing caused by the lower level of mother’s loneliness. The second hypothesis predicted also a higher level of wellbeing due to the higher financial resources she will receive. The last hypothesis predicted a lower level of mother’s wellbeing caused by a lower level of economic resources, due to the fact that the contact will substitute the financial contribution of the father. Using the data of the Netherlands Kinship Panel Studies (NKPS), findings revealed no significant effect of father-child contact on mother’s wellbeing. Only the loneliness variable will predict mother’s wellbeing significant. Based on these findings we could state that the frequency of father-child contact will not affect mother’s wellbeing through these mediating variables.