Growing Up Without Father: The Effects on African American Boys

This study examined behaviors of African American male adolescents, resulting from father absence. It further examined the extent to which there is a relation between African American boys’ behavior and their status as sons of an absent father. Effects of father absence was approached by researching articles and journals comparing African American males raised in female headed household to African American boys raised in traditional two parent homes. Four major youth pathogens were examined. Juvenile crime/delinquency, teen pregnancy, teen drug abuse and school dropout correlated with fatherlessness more than any other socioeconomic factor. Through the literature review it was concluded that there are several marked distinctions among African American boys growing up without fathers compared to those growing up with fathers. Boys without fathers in the home have a noticeably higher rate of incidence of drug abuse, school dropout, crime and delinquency, and teen pregnancy.