Factors that influence fathers’ participation in child care

Using the social address model, we examined demographic factors that influence fathers' participation in child care by comparing trends in two samples: (a) 139 professional women and their spouses and (b) a heterogeneous group of 214 homemakers and employed women and their spouses. Results support previous observations that fathers are more likely to engage in play activities with their children than perform any other type of child care. Mothers continue to be primarily responsible for child care, regardless of their employment status. Parental education level was the most consistent predictor of father participation in both samples. The findings are discussed in terms of moving beyond intrafamily variables as predictors of child care participation to the larger contexts of gender and power.