How Socioeconomic Status Influences Fathers’ Involvement with their Children and the Cycle it Produces

Abstract

The intent of this paper is to examine the current evidence that fathers of lower socioeconomic status are less involved with their children in areas such as childrearing, homework help, and supporting the family emotionally and financially. Other areas covered in this paper include the possible reasons and theories as to why low socioeconomic status tends to lead to low father involvement. The effects of low father involvement on the children is also discussed, and this concept is furthered in order to explain the cycle of socioeconomic status that these effects create. Possible solutions are derived using the current theories, the intent of which are to help solve this problematic cycle. This paper also includes extensions beyond the scope of low and middle socioeconomic status fathers to include high socioeconomic status fathers.