The effect of children's sleeping arrangements (communal vs. familial) on fatherhood among men in an Israeli kibbutz

The author examined the effect of children's sleeping arrangements (communa l vs, familial) on the extent of fathers' involvement in their children's l ives and their level of satisfaction from fatherhood. Questionnaires assess ing those aspects of fatherhood were administered to 40 fathers living in a kibbutz. Results indicated that the fathers of children sleeping at home w ere more involved with their children's lives and showed higher levels of s atisfaction from fatherhood. Preference for a communal sleeping arrangement for children was expressed among 7 men, all of whom were older than 50 yea rs. These results are discussed in the context of culturally changing conce pts of paternal roles in the family and socioeconomic transition in the kib butz.