A model of fathers' behavioral involvement in child care in dual-earner families

Fathers and mothers (n = 120) of preschool-aged children completed 2 measur es assessing fathers' behavioral involvement in child care (i.e., the amoun t of time that the father was the child's primary caregiver and the number of child-care tasks performed). The results reaffirm the findings from prev ious studies that father's long work hours can be a barrier to greater part icipation in child care but that mothers' extended work hours serve to incr ease father participation in child care. Women's perception of their husban ds' competence as parents and marital satisfaction also explain fathers' in volvement. Fathers' gender role ideology and attitudes about the fathers' r ole appear important for fathers' involvement in child care, and findings i ndicate that men's involvement may be more self-determined than previously believed.