Time with dads: Unique family context in Singapore

• In Event: Fathering and Father-Child Relationships

Abstract

Aims: Paternal involvement with children has been considered one of the paramount factors in child development (Cano, Perales, & Baxter, 2018). We examined the family context that influences the quantity and quality of time young Singaporean children spent with their fathers. In addition to testing the time availability, gender ideology, and relative resources perspectives, we investigated how the unique context in Singapore in which many young families have migrant domestic helpers and grandparents live with them affects paternal involvement with children.
Method: The sample of this study was 4,717 children living in two-parent families in a nationally representative study – Singapore Longitudinal Early Development Study. Children’s time diaries for one weekday and one weekend day were analyzed in Tobit regression with the sample multiply imputed by chained equations. Children’s time with fathers was categorized into caregiving, play/companionship, social activities, achievement-oriented activities, and travel and used as dependent variables. The independent variables were mother’s employment status and gender ideology, parental education level, household income, proportion of mother’s earning in household income, whether there is a live-in helper, and whether a grandmother co-reside with the family. The child’s gender, age, and race, father’s age, and the number of children under 18 were controlled.
Results: Children’s time with fathers was positively related to parental education level and household income, while it was negatively related to having a domestic helper and grandmother in the family. On a weekday, children of high-educated parents spent 9 minutes more with their fathers in caregiving and 26 minutes more in achievement-oriented activities with fathers than children of low-educated parents. Compared to the children in low-income families, fathers’ time with children in high-income families was 10 minutes more in caregiving and 16 minutes more in achievement-oriented activities. When there is a live-in helper or grandmother, a father spent almost half an hour less with a child on a weekday, and that the reduced time is mostly in caregiving and travel. On a weekend day, a child whose parents both have a high education spent 24 minutes more in care, and 17 minutes more in achievement-oriented activities, with the father than a child whose parents both have a low education. Children of families in the top quartile income level spent 64 minutes more in social activities and 11 minutes more in achievement-oriented activities with their fathers than those in the lowest income quartile. A child with a live-in helper spent 13 minutes less been cared for by their fathers but 14 minutes more in social activities with their fathers.
Discussion: In a highly developed country such as Singapore where its population is diverse socioeconomically and culturally, paternal time was related first and foremost to the parents’ education. We find that domestic helpers and grandparents reduced fathers’ involvement in caregiving although not in other activities such as studying and play. We also found Chinese children spent more time with their fathers than Indian and Malay children do. Findings spotlight on the childcare dynamics in Singapore that have implications for child development.

Authors

• Jean Yeung, National University of Singapore
  Non-Presenting Author

• Jiyeon Lee, National University of Singapore
  Presenting Author