Family structure and trends in US fathers’ time with children, 2003–2013

Abstract

Father’s child care time increased substantially between 1965 and 2011. The objective of this paper is to examine whether there was continued change in father care time and whether father time was linked to family structure and partner’s employment. Data on the time use of men aged 18–64 living with children under age 18 were drawn from the American Time Use Survey from 2003 to 2013 (N = 20,609). Not all fathers reported child care time; the proportion of fathers reporting primary child care increased during the recession but by 2013 had returned to pre-recessionary levels. Fathers’ total time in child care increased significantly as did their time in play and management activities. The additional amount of child care time contributed by unemployed fathers was substantial – 40 to 55 minutes per day – compared to employed fathers with employed wives. The recession impacted single fathers’ care more than partnered fathers’.

Keywords:

• fathers
• child care
• time use
• economic conditions
• trends

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development [grant numbers R01-HD053654, Sandra Hofferth, PI, and R24-HD041041, the Maryland Population Research Center].