University of FloridaSolutions for Your Life

Download PDF
Publication #FAR0099

 

Changing Roles of Fathers1

Donna Davis2

Figure 1. 
[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]

As researchers continue to explore changes in U.S. families, they're directing more attention to understanding the impacts fathers have on family life. Drawing on 13 national surveys that measure parenting, family formation, and fertility, Child Trends recently pinpointed several key findings that help us better understand the role fathers play in today's families.

The researchers uncovered interesting insights into the value men place on family life and childrearing, as well as the contributions fathers can make to the lives of their children. Not surprisingly, fathers who live with their children typically reported regular participation in some kind of leisure or play activity. However, today's fathers are also very likely to be involved in their children's daily activities and are actively engaged in monitoring those activities.

The fathers studied are also much more likely than mothers to believe that two parents are more effective at raising children than a single parent, and 20% of young children in two-parent families have fathers who function as the primary caregivers when their mother is working, in school or seeking employment. Fathers also reported showing their children love and affection, with 73% reporting that they hugged their children or showed them physical affection and told their children that they love them at least once a day (Child Trends, 2003).

As researchers continue to understand the dynamics of family life in the new century, they hope to better understand and appreciate the contributions both parents make in raising their children.

Listening, learning, and living together: it's the science of life. "Family Album" is a co-production of University of Florida IFAS Extension, the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, and of WUFT-FM. If you'd like to learn more, please visit our website at http://www.familyalbumradio.org.

To listen to the radio broadcast:

http://www.radiosource.net/radio_stories/525.mp3

http://www.radiosource.net/radio_stories/525.wav

References

Child Trends. (2003). Charting parenthood: A statistical portrait of fathers and mothers in America. Retrieved September 19, 2006, from http://www.childtrends.org/files/ParenthoodRpt2002.pdf.

Footnotes

1.

This document is FAR0099, one of a series of the Family Youth and Community Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Broadcast as program 525. Published March 2009. Reviewed March 2012. In the interest of time and/or clarity, the broadcast version of this script may have been modified. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2.

Donna Davis, senior producer, Family Album Radio, Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, Dean.