Abstract
Separated fathers are generally assumed to be less involved with their children than partnered fathers. Yet, extant research on separated fathers has mainly focused on nonresident fathers without taking into consideration the existing diversity in post-separation residence arrangements. In fact, separated resident and shared residence fathers may possibly be more involved than partnered fathers, because the former likely bear primary childcare responsibilities, while the latter often act as secondary caregivers. This study extends previous research by investigating father involvement via regular care and leisure activities across a full range of separated fathers, and how it compares to that of partnered fathers, as well as whether patterns differ by father’s education. Data from the New Families in the Netherlands survey (N = 1592) reveal that as compared to partnered fathers, shared residence fathers and especially resident fathers are more actively involved in the regular care of their child, whereas nonresident fathers are less involved. Results are similar for leisure, except that partnered fathers are similarly involved as shared residence fathers in this activity. Education also matters: involvement of fathers across different post-separation residence arrangements is more similar to that of partnered fathers when being highly educated. These findings suggest that including resident and shared residence fathers in the picture offers a more optimistic view of fathers’ post-separation parenting role, because these separated fathers are actually more actively involved in childrearing than partnered fathers.
Highlights
Over the last decades, there has been a remarkable shift in the social and cultural norms shaping fathers’ involvement with their children, reflecting changes in family gender roles and the division of care and paid work
Somewhat unexpectedly, involvement was higher among all types of separated fathers than partnered fathers, but differences between separated fathers were as anticipated: shared residence fathers, and especially resident fathers, were more involved prior to the separation than nonresident fathers
Research on separated fathers has primarily focused on nonresident fathers, and has consistently found that they are less involved than partnered fathers
Summary
There has been a remarkable shift in the social and cultural norms shaping fathers’ involvement with their children, reflecting changes in family gender roles and the division of care and paid work. Besides the cultural shift in the normative expectations of fathers’ nurturing roles, the continuing involvement of separated fathers in their children’s lives has been reinforced by social policies oriented to promote more gender-equal engagement in childrearing in all types of families (Pilkauskas & Schneider, 2020) and legislative changes toward more gender-neutral parental custody laws (Lamb, 2000; McIntosh, 2009). Ample visitation rights for nonresident fathers have increased their involvement in parenting activities (Waller et al, 2018) In this changing demographic, social, and cultural context, the literature on separated fathers has evolved from the initial focus on child support payments and father–child contact to a growing emphasis on fathers’ caregiving. The sample of divorced/separated fathers includes a relatively large number of resident and shared residence fathers, which allows a comprehensive examination of father involvement across a full variety of residential contexts
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