Parenting Aggravation among Disadvantaged Fathers

• In Event: 343 - Regular Session. Parenthood 2

Abstract

Using data from the Fragile Families and Child Well-being Study on mothers and fathers who had a new baby (N = 2,441), this study analyzes father’s parenting aggravation over the first five years of their new child’s life. First, we explore associations between early commitments to fathering, human and social capital, the situational context at birth, and father’s parenting aggravation one year later. Second, we use fixed-effects to examine predictors of changes in father’s parenting aggravation over the first five years of their new child’s life. The results indicate that social-psychological commitments to fathering at the time of the child’s birth predict lower levels of fathers’ parenting aggravation one year later. In addition, there is evidence that father engagement and higher quality relationships with the birth mother predict lower levels of parenting aggravation; disadvantage predicts higher levels of parenting aggravation. There is some support for the expectation that social-psychological commitments to fathering moderate the relationship between parenting-relevant stressors and feelings of aggravation.

Authors

• Chris Knoester, The Ohio State University

• Richard J. Petts, Ball State University