How Fathers Respond When Their Youth Leave and Return Home

Keywords

Family relationships, Father child relationships, Home situation

Abstract

Few social scientists have examined the impact that adult children's leaving and returning home have upon fathers and their family relationships. In a sample of 325 fathers in Indiana and Michigan, 41% reported some stress as negative/disturbed reactions about a child's leaving home. These reactions were much greater than some earlier studies have shown. Overall, (as explained by the A-B-C-X Model of Stress) the fathers' definition of their situation was the factor most related to the fathers' negative feelings about their child's leaving home, to their related psychosomatic complaints and their lower sense of well-being. It was not related, however, to fathers' satisfaction with their family life. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Original Publication Citation

Lewis, R. A., & Duncan, S. F. (1991). How fathers respond when their youth leave and return home. Prevention in Human Services, 9, 223-234.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2008-10-20

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/7469

Publisher

Prevention in Human Services

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Family Life

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

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