The Determinants of Paternal Involvement in Primiparous Swedish Families

Abstract

The mothers and fathers of 138 firstborn Swedish children were interviewed when their children averaged 16 months of age and again 12 months later. Questions focused on demographic characteristics, employment characteristics, division of paid and unpaid parental leave, amount of paternal involvement in the weeks preceding the two assesssment phases, division of parental responsibilities, and the child's parental preferences. Analyses conducted using the Partial Least Squares (soft modelling) technique revealed that fathers were more involved at 28 months when their partners worked more, when the fathers assumed more responsibility for childcare chores, and when the fathers had been more involved 12 months earlier. Paternal involvement at 16 months was likewise determined by maternal and paternal work status, and the amount of maternity and paternity leave taken in the preceding months. The data thus reveal substantial stability over time in the degree of paternal involvement. Fathers were also more involved with daughters. Socioeconomic status (SES) did not significantly predict paternal involvement.

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