Father Involvement and Youth Transition into Risky Behaviors in Immigrant and Native-Born Families

Jacinta M.H. Bronte-Tinkew, Child Trends
Jonathan Zaff, Child Trends
Kristin Moore, Child Trends

This study explores how father involvement is related to adolescent risk behaviors among youth in first and second-generation immigrant families and US native-born families. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Youth (1997 - 1999) and discrete time regressions, we test three hypotheses: 1) high levels of father involvement are related to a reduced likelihood of engaging in risk behaviors; 2) immigrant status (being first or second-generation youth) reduces the likelihood of involvement in risky behaviors; and 3) father involvement interacts with immigration status, race, or gender in its effects on youth risk behaviors. Findings indicate that father involvement,and being an immigrant youth (1st or 2nd gen)is associated with reduced risky behaviors.Two-way interactions indicate that father involvement does not interact with gender, race or youth immigration status in predicting risky behaviors.