Father Involvement with Children Following Marital and Non-Marital Separations

Abstract

Using data from the Fragile Families and Child Well-being Study, the present study examines levels of father involvement with children between married and cohabiting couples post-separation. Differences in father involvement were analyzed using three hypotheses and one research question-repartnering, traditional values, human capital, and relationship quality. Multiple regression analysis revealed that previously cohabitating fathers were more involved with children than previously married fathers, although not all measures of involvement were significantly related to prior marital status. Findings point to several policy implications for low income couples with children.

Parenting Styles and Practices in Children's Obesogenic Behaviors: Scientific Gaps and Future Research Directions

“…As has been shown in other literatures, when one parent has limited time with the child, that parent wants those interactions to be positive and enjoyable, so the parent may place minimal demands on the child, in part, as an effort to establish rapport and gain favor with the child. 40,41 Finally, as noted above, having data on parents' and children's perceptions of parenting styles and practices could yield important insight into how parents and children interact with each other and how these interactions, and perceptions of interactions, predict children's obesogenic behaviors. In the same way, it may be important to collect data from both parents and from children to better model co-parenting and children's perceptions of similarities and differences between their parents around obesogenic behaviors.…”

A Better Deal for Cohabiting Fathers? Union Status Differences in Father Involvement

“…It may also be the case that fathers with fewer resources to invest (i.e., human capital, income, employment, time) may be less likely to be married and be less involved with their children. When parents divorce, father involvement tends to decline (Furstenberg & Cherlin, 1991); however, cohabiting fathers who separate from mothers do not reduce their involvement as precipitously post-separation (Laughlin, Farrie, & Fagan, 2009).…”

“…Similarly, once a coresidential relationship ends, the connection between mother and father is compromised and the structural support of the father-child relationship is damaged, fathers may become less involved with their children (Shulman & Seiffge-Krenke, 1997). Again, research has shown that levels of involvement post-separation are similar between formerly married and cohabiting fathers (Laughlin, Farrie, & Fagan, 2009). In contrast, nonresidential fathers who solidify their unions with mothers by marrying or cohabiting would most likely increase their involvement with their children.…”

“…Most studies examine father involvement (1) within a particular union status or residential state (Carlson, McLanahan & Brooks-Gunn, 2008;Castillo, Welch, & Sarver, 2011;Cohen, 2003;Meteyer & Perry-Jenkins, 2010), (2) among only two or three statuses or residential states (Carlson & Berger, 2010;Hofferth & Anderson, 2003), or (3) after dissolution (Laughlin, Farrie, & Fagan, 2009). Father involvement has been conceptualized as part of the "package deal" in which fathers are involved with children insofar as they are in a good relationship with the mother (Furstenberg & Cherlin, 1991;Townsend, 2002).…”

Los modelos familiares en España: reflexionando sobre la ambivalencia familiar desde una aproximación teórica

“…La cohabitación se asocia a un estilo de vida y valores que se diferencia respecto al modelo adoptado por las parejas casadas. De hecho, hay numerosos investigadores que han encontrado que los padres cohabitantes tienen más probabilidades que los padres casados de desarrollar actitudes y roles de género igualitarios, y mostrar actitudes favorables hacia los modelos igualitarios de familia (Clarkberg et al, 1995;Lye y Waldrom, 1997;Avellar y Smock, 2005) y son menos propensos a los modelos familiares tradicionales, como el modelo de varón sustentador (Kalmijn et al, 2007;Laughlin et al, 2009). Las investigaciones realizadas sugieren que los padres cohabitantes son menos tradicionales y tienden a tener valores igualitarios respecto a los roles de género y a los modelos familiares (Shelton y John, 1993;Kaufman, 2000).…”