Father-Absence Effects in Families of Different Sibling Compositions

The effects of father absence for varying lengths of time and varying growth periods are compared with the effects of father presence, as reflected in college entrance scores on the American College Entrance exam. Comparisons are made for only children in the 2 and 3-child families. In general, father absence has a depressive effect throughout, with the greatest effects during the early and middle years; boys without brothers are more affected than those with brothers, girls with a younger brother more affected than other girls, and only girls more affected than only boys.