The Relationship Between Disadvantaged Fathers' Employment Stability, Workplace Flexibility, and Involvement With Their Infant Children

Jason T. Castillo, Greg W. Welch, Christian M. Sarver

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

In the United States, the slow pace of economic recovery and change in the workplace has created barriers for disadvantaged fathers to engage with their infant children. Using secondary data from the Fragile Families and Child Well-Being Study (n = 1,548), one of a few national studies that examine disadvantaged fathers, we conducted a series of regression analyses examining the relationship between disadvantaged fathers' employment stability, workplace flexibility, and involvement with their infant children. The results showed that resident, younger, Black, higher income-earning fathers and fathers with stable employment and workplace flexibility were more involved with their infant children. This study provides additional evidence to the literature espousing the importance of workplace policies and arrangements that provide employees with stability and flexibility in the workplace. In doing so, policymakers, employers, and practitioners should develop and implement workplace policies and arrangements strengthening the relationships between disadvantaged fathers and their children and families, employees and their employers, businesses and their consumers, and businesses and their communities. With changes in the American household and workforce nationwide, especially as they relate to men and disadvantaged fathers, it is important that future research continue to examine the relationship between these two entities.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)380-396
Number of pages17
JournalJournal of Social Service Research
Volume39
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2013

Keywords

  • Father involvement
  • employment
  • workplace flexibility

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
  • Sociology and Political Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The Relationship Between Disadvantaged Fathers' Employment Stability, Workplace Flexibility, and Involvement With Their Infant Children'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this