Do Divorced Fathers Matter? The Impact of Parenting Styles of Divorced Fathers on the Well-Being of the Child

Previous research, which primarily focused on parenting of married parents or divorced mothers, indicated that authoritative parenting is positively related to children’s well-being. This article contributes to the literature by investigating parenting styles of divorced fathers and their influence on children’s well-being. Using a subsample (N = 684) of the multiactor Divorce in Flanders data set, we first compare parenting styles of residential fathers, fathers in joint custody, and nonresidential fathers. Second, the relationship between those parenting styles and children’s well-being is examined. Third, we investigate if this relationship differs according to custodial arrangements. Results indicate that nonresidential fathers are more permissive and uninvolved. Authoritative fathers in different custodial arrangements have a positive influence on children’s well-being.