Factors associated with fathers' caregiving activities and sensitivity with young children

A multifactorial model was used to identify child, sociodemographic, patern al, and maternal characteristics associated with 2 aspects of fathers' pare nting. Fathers were interviewed about their caregiving responsibilities at 6, 15, 24, and 36 months, and a subset was videotaped during father-child p lay at 6 and 36 months. Caregiving activities and sensitivity during play i nteractions were predicted by different factors. Fathers were more involved in caregiving when fathers worked fewer hours and mothers worked more hour s, when fathers and mothers were younger, when fathers had more positive pe rsonalities, when mothers reported greater marital intimacy, and when child ren were boys. Fathers who had less traditional child-rearing beliefs, were older, and reported more marital intimacy were more sensitive during play. These findings are consistent with a multifactorial and multidimensional v iew of fathering.