Does Change in Young Men's Employment Influence Fathering?

This study examined the association between paternal and maternal employment changes and changes in the frequency of fathers praising, showing affection, disciplining, and reading to children. Data were drawn from the Young Adult supplement to the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, 1979, in particular, young adults (18-29) who were living with a child and a partner between 2000 and 2006. Supporting economic theory regarding substitutability across partners, fathers were more involved when both they and their partners were employed full-time and they were less involved when their employment exceeded that of their partner. Although fathers also tended to be less involved when they worked less than their partners, fathers who held traditional gender role attitudes were more involved than those who held nontraditional gender role attitudes. The results suggest the important part fathers' attitudes and values have in determining their involvement with their children under differing employment conditions.