Father-Provided Child Care among Married Couples in a Recessionary Context

• In Event: 220 - Section on the Sociology of the Family Roundtables (one-hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 21. Parenting

Abstract

The economic decline and consequent changes in parental employment associated with the Great Recession has forced families to re-examine the role and expectations of fathers. This paper looks at the impact of the economic shock of job loss among fathers on the provision of father provided child care among married couples with an employed wife. Using longitudinal survey data from the 2008 Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), we examine how changes in employment facilitate or impede child care provided by fathers. Results shed light on the myriad of economic and social factors that influence the use of father provided child care during times of economic uncertainty.

Authors

• Lynda L. Laughlin, U.S. Census Bureau

• Kristin Smith, University of New Hampshire