February 2001 | W. Jean Yeung, John F. Sandberg, Pamela E. Davis-Kean, Sandra L. Hofferth
This paper examines the involvement of fathers in intact families using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics. The findings suggest that while mothers still bear the primary responsibility for parenting, fathers' involvement relative to mothers is increasing. A "new father" role is emerging on weekends, with different determinants of fathers' involvement on weekdays and weekends. Fathers' wages and work hours negatively affect their time with children on weekdays but not on weekends. Mothers' work hours have no effect on children's time with fathers. On weekends, Black fathers are less involved, while Latino fathers are more involved compared to White fathers. The weekday-weekend differential indicates that a simple gender inequality theory is insufficient to explain the dynamics of household labor division in American families.
The paper also reviews previous literature on paternal involvement, noting that while there has been an increase in paternal engagement over the past three decades, fathers still spend significantly less time with their children than mothers. The nature of paternal involvement varies by child's age and gender, with older children spending less time with fathers and fathers being more involved in play and companionship activities with younger children. Fathers' earnings and work hours negatively affect their involvement on weekdays, but not on weekends. Mothers' work hours and earnings do not significantly impact fathers' involvement, except when mothers contribute a substantial share of family income, which increases fathers' involvement on weekends.
The multivariate analyses reveal that parents' earnings and labor market behavior influence children's involvement with fathers differently on weekdays and weekends. On weekdays, fathers' earnings and work hours negatively affect their involvement, while mothers' work hours or earnings do not. On weekends, fathers' earnings do not negatively affect their involvement, and mothers' work hours do not impact fathers' involvement, but mothers' contribution to family income does. These findings suggest that factors beyond earnings, such as psychological variables, may also influence fathers' involvement.This paper examines the involvement of fathers in intact families using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics. The findings suggest that while mothers still bear the primary responsibility for parenting, fathers' involvement relative to mothers is increasing. A "new father" role is emerging on weekends, with different determinants of fathers' involvement on weekdays and weekends. Fathers' wages and work hours negatively affect their time with children on weekdays but not on weekends. Mothers' work hours have no effect on children's time with fathers. On weekends, Black fathers are less involved, while Latino fathers are more involved compared to White fathers. The weekday-weekend differential indicates that a simple gender inequality theory is insufficient to explain the dynamics of household labor division in American families.
The paper also reviews previous literature on paternal involvement, noting that while there has been an increase in paternal engagement over the past three decades, fathers still spend significantly less time with their children than mothers. The nature of paternal involvement varies by child's age and gender, with older children spending less time with fathers and fathers being more involved in play and companionship activities with younger children. Fathers' earnings and work hours negatively affect their involvement on weekdays, but not on weekends. Mothers' work hours and earnings do not significantly impact fathers' involvement, except when mothers contribute a substantial share of family income, which increases fathers' involvement on weekends.
The multivariate analyses reveal that parents' earnings and labor market behavior influence children's involvement with fathers differently on weekdays and weekends. On weekdays, fathers' earnings and work hours negatively affect their involvement, while mothers' work hours or earnings do not. On weekends, fathers' earnings do not negatively affect their involvement, and mothers' work hours do not impact fathers' involvement, but mothers' contribution to family income does. These findings suggest that factors beyond earnings, such as psychological variables, may also influence fathers' involvement.