Fathers' Parenting Stress After the Arrival of a New Child

Abstract

Objective To analyze the relationship between father identity characteristics and fathers' parenting stress over the first 5 years after a birth. Background Previous work has considered how father identities shape father involvement, but has not focused on parenting stress. Understanding parenting stress is important as it is linked to fathers' and children's well-being. Method We analyzed Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing (FFCW) data (N = 2,547) using ordinary-least-squares (OLS) and fixed-effects regression analyses. The FFCW follows the families of a cohort of new children who were born in large urban areas of the United States in the late 1990s. Results OLS results indicated that positive attitudes about fatherhood, wanting to provide direct care, and having higher levels of support from the birth mother predicted lower levels of fathers' parenting stress one year after a birth; father engagement, changes in birth mother's support, and inconsistent financial support were also statistically associated with parenting stress. Fixed effects results indicated that changes in father engagement were negatively associated with changes in fathers' parenting stress over Years 1–5; changes in fathers' inconsistent financial support were positively associated with parenting stress. Finally, we found evidence that father identity characteristics moderate predictors of parenting stress. Conclusion Father identities seem to play an important role in shaping fathering experiences and fathers' parenting stress. Implications Fathers should be encouraged and supported in developing more salient father identities and fathering commitments by significant others, family practitioners, and public policies.