This study notes that in 2013, there were an estimated 3.5 million referrals—involving over six million children—to the child welfare system (CWS) in the United States. According to this article, close to half of child maltreatment cases are perpetrated by fathers. This study investigates the characteristics of men who act as primary caregivers of maltreated children. The researchers examined differences between male primary caregivers (fathers) for youth involved in the child welfare system and female primary caregivers (mothers).
The researchers conducted secondary data analyses of the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being-II baseline data. Overall, primary caregiving fathers and mothers were more similar than different, though a few differences were revealed. Compared to mothers, fathers tended to be older and were more likely to be employed, with a higher household income and older children. Fathers and mothers did not differ in terms of depression or parenting behavior, but there was evidence that mothers had more problems with drug use compared to fathers. Compared to fathers, mothers reported higher levels of internalizing and externalizing problems in their children. Children with male primary caregivers were more likely to have experienced physical abuse but less likely to have experienced emotional abuse or witnessed domestic violence than children with female primary caregivers.
The researchers' findings suggest there are few differences between male and female groups. They note that female primary caregivers may require greater assistance with drug use, financial issues, and child mental health problems compared to male primary caregivers. The researchers state that families with male primary caregivers in the CWS appear to be doing relatively well, contrary to popular belief that fathers are absent, dangerous, or unimportant. The study concludes that families are likely to be strengthened by enhanced clinical and policy efforts to engage fathers in caregiving
These findings may help to inform researchers, practitioners, and policy makers on how to address the needs of male caregivers and their children.