FATHERS CAREGIVING IN LOW-INCOME AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND HISPANIC-AMERICAN FAMILIES

The present study assessed fathers' and mothers' relative involvement in infant caregiving tasks in 34 low-income African-American and Hispa nic-American families. Analysis showed that involvement in childcare d iffered as a function of the gender of the parent. Fathers spent one h alf the time mothers did in caregiving. However, fathers' and mothers' participation in caregiving did not vary as a function of ethnic grou p. African-American parents reported to have received more family supp ort than Hispanic-American parents. Although relationships were noted between age, income, education, length of marriage, social support, an d involvement in infant caregiving, these sociodemographic variables d id not predict parents' participation in childcare. The results are di scussed in relation to the preconceived notion that low-income, minori ty fathers are 'uninvolved'. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.