Understanding Noncustodial Fathers' Family and Life Satisfaction From Resource Theory Perspective

Abstract

The study is an exploratory attempt to examine family and life satisfaction of 212 noncustodial fathers 3 years following divorce, using path analysis to validate the hypothesized ordering among six dependent variables suggested by resource theory. Results indicated the significant predictors of family and life satisfaction were perceived economic well-being, cooperative communication during conflict and during coparenting, low importance of resource deprivation, and low frequency of conflict. Involvement with children was not a significant predictor of family and life satisfaction. Resource theory was helpful in generating the variables for the study and explaining noncustodial fathers' perceptions of the relationship dynamics between former spouses who are coparenting children.