Paternity Leave and Relationship Quality and Conflict: Variations by Gender and Mothers’ Work Status

• In Event: 1168 - Family Policy

Abstract

Despite increased public and scholarly interest in parental leave, research on the consequences of paternity leave is still limited and has focused primarily on father involvement as an outcome. This study uses national data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort to examine the association between paternity leave and relationship quality and conflict, and whether these relationships vary by parent gender and mothers’ work status. Results suggest that paternity leave-taking and length of paternity leave are positively associated with mothers’ reports of relationship quality, and paternity leave-taking is positively associated with fathers’ reports. In addition, the association between paternity leave and relationship conflict varies by mothers’ work status. In families where mothers worked prior to the child’s birth, paternity leave-taking and length of paternity leave are negatively associated with mothers’ reports of relationship conflict. In families where mothers did not work prior to the child’s birth, paternity leave-taking and length of paternity leave are positively associated with mothers’ reports of relationship conflict. Overall, this study extends the literature by illustrating that paternity leave not only has implications for father involvement, but parental relationships as well. This study also suggests that paternity leave-taking may be especially likely to shape mothers’ perceptions of their relationship with the father.

Authors

• Richard J. Petts, Ball State University

• Chris Knoester, Ohio State University