Number 71 n December 20, 2013

Fathers’ Involvement With Their Children:
 

United States, 2006–2010
 by Jo Jones, Ph.D., and William D. Mosher, Ph.D., Division of Vital Statistics

Abstract

Objective—This report measures fathers’ involvement with their children.

Father involvement is measured by how often a man participated in a set of

activities in the last 4 weeks with children who were living with him and with

children who were living apart from him. Involvement is measured separately for

children aged 0–4 years and children aged 5–18 years. Increased involvement of

fathers in their children’s lives has been associated with a range of positive

outcomes for the children.

Methods—The analyses presented in this report are based on a nationally

representative sample of 10,403 men aged 15–44 years in the household

population of the United States. The father-involvement measures are based on

2,200 fathers of children under age 5—1,790 who live with their children and

410 who live apart from their children, and on 3,166 fathers of children aged

5–18—2,091 who live with their children and 1,075 who live apart from their

children.

Results—Statistics are presented on the frequency with which fathers took

part in a set of age-specific activities in their children’s lives. Differences in

percent distributions are found by whether the father lives with or apart from his

children, and by his demographic characteristics. In general, fathers living with

their children participated in their children’s lives to a greater degree than fathers

who live apart from their children. Differences in fathers’ involvement with their

children were also found by the father’s age, marital or cohabiting status,

education, and Hispanic origin and race.

Keywords: fathers’ activities with children • fathers and children • coresidential

and noncoresidential children • National Survey of Family Growth

well-being in many areas (1)—for Introduction

example, on increasing the chances of

Fathers’ involvement in their academic success (2,3) and in reducing children’s lives has been shown to have the chances of delinquency and

a positive effect on children and their substance abuse (4–6). A literature

review found that children whose fathers

assumed 40% or more of the family’s

care tasks had better academic

achievement than children whose fathers

were less involved (7,8).

In recent decades, fathers who live

with their children have become more

involved in their children’s lives than in

previous generations (9,10), although

fewer fathers now live with their

children because of increases in

nonmarital childbearing (9,11–15). The

impact of nonmarital childbearing on the

presence of fathers is moderated,

however, by increases in the proportion

of children being born into cohabiting

unions (12). For example, Martinez et

al. (see Table 12 in reference 12) found

that 23% of recent births (those

occurring in the 5 years before the

interview) to women aged 15–44 in

2006–2010 occurred within cohabiting

unions, a significant increase from births

to women aged 15–44 in 2002 (14%).

Using a national sample of fathers aged

15–44, this report documents how much

fathers are involved with their

children—both children with whom they

live, and children from whom they live

apart.

From 1973, when the National

Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) first

conducted the National Survey of

Family Growth (NSFG), to 1995, NSFG

measured changes in the factors related

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

National Center for Health Statistics 
Page 2	 National Health Statistics Reports n Number 71 n December 20, 2013

to birth and pregnancy rates and family

formation and dissolution by

interviewing national samples of women

aged 15–44 (16). In 2002, NSFG began

collecting data from national samples of

men aged 15–44. Collecting information

on father involvement was a major

reason for including men in the 2002

and 2006–2010 NSFGs, due to, as noted

above, a growing body of research

showing a positive association between

the presence and involvement of fathers

and outcomes for their children (7,8,17).

In 1995, President Clinton issued a

memorandum for the heads of executive

departments and agencies urging federal

surveys to ‘‘incorporate fathers, where

appropriate, in government-initiated

research regarding children and their

families’’ (18). Subsequent consultation

by NSFG staff with experts in other

federal agencies and the research

community showed that collecting data

on the role of fathers in their children’s

lives was a high priority. It was also

recognized that multiple indicators of

father involvement were necessary to

measure the multidimensionality of

fathering (8,17,19). And the continued

importance of collecting data directly

from fathers about their involvement in

their children’s lives was a summary

conclusion from a 2012 conference at

the National Institutes of Health

sponsored by the National Center for

Family & Marriage Research (20,21).

Data from the 2002 NSFG on father

involvement were published previously

(22), based on a sample of 4,928 men

aged 15–44. This report builds on that

research and is based on a sample of

10,403 men aged 15–44 from the

2006–2010 NSFG. Both reports present

national data for fathers aged 15–44 on

whether they live with or live apart

from their children under age 18 and

their involvement with those children.

The same eight indicators of father

involvement were collected in 2002 and

2006–2010.

Some scholars have suggested that

fathers’ involvement in the lives of their

children can be classified into three (or

four, depending upon how economic

support is classified) broad dimensions

(8,23):

+	 Engagement or direct interaction with

the child, including taking care of,

playing with, or teaching the child

+	 Accessibility or availability, which

includes monitoring behavior from

the next room or nearby, and

allowing direct interaction if

necessary

+	 Responsibility for the care of the

child, which includes ‘‘making plans

and arrangements for care as distinct

from the performance of the care’’ (8)

+	 Economic support or breadwinning,

which can be considered either as

part of responsibility or separate from

other measures of father involvement

Other scholars may measure or

classify involvement differently.

This report is limited to measures of

direct interaction or engagement with

children in the last 4 weeks as reported

by the father. However, NSFG has other

measures on fathers that can be used in

future research, including:

+	 Age and marital or cohabitation status

when first becoming a father

+	 Engagement in activities with

children in the last 12 months

+	 Satisfaction with the amount of

contact with children who live apart

+	 Amount and frequency of child

support paid, if any

+	 Attitudes toward marriage and

parenthood

These other measures are outside

the scope of this report, but some have

been published previously (10,22,24–

27).

Methods

Source of the data

This report is based on the 2006–

2010 NSFG, which was jointly planned

and funded by NCHS and several other

programs of the U.S. Department of

Health and Human Services (see

Acknowledgments). Data were collected

from 12,279 interviews with women and

10,403 men aged 15–44 conducted from

June 2006 through June 2010. This

report is mainly limited to the data

collected from the sample of 3,928 men

who are fathers.

Interviews were voluntary;

participants were provided information

about the survey before being asked for

signed informed consent. The survey

was reviewed and approved by the

NCHS and University of Michigan

Institutional Review Boards. The overall

response rate in 2006–2010 was 77%;

the response rate for women was 78%

and for men it was 75% (28). To protect

the respondent’s privacy, only one

person was interviewed in each selected

household. Further information about

NSFG’s sample design, sampling and

sampling errors, interviewing, and data

processing is available elsewhere

(28–30).

Statistical analysis

This report presents basic

descriptive statistics on father

involvement with children living with

and living apart from them in the

United States in 2006–2010; it does not

attempt to demonstrate cause-and-effect

relationships. Statistics for this report

were produced using SAS software,

version 9.3 (http://www.sas.com). The

SAS procedure PROC SURVEYFREQ

is designed to handle the complex

sample design of surveys like NSFG

and was used to calculate percentages

and standard errors (SE). All estimates

for 2006–2010 in this report were

weighted to reflect the approximately 62

million men aged 15–44 in the

household population of the United

States at the midpoint of interviewing,

June 2008. Men aged 15–44 living on

military bases or in institutions were not

included in the survey.

Statistically significant differences

between percentages were assessed

using two-tailed t tests at the 5% level.

No adjustments were made for multiple

comparisons. Terms such as ‘‘greater

than’’ and ‘‘less than’’ indicate that a

statistically significant difference was

found. Lack of comment regarding the

difference between any two statistics

does not mean that the difference was

tested and found not to be significant.

In the description of the results

below, when the percentage being cited

is below 10% or above 90%, the text
National Health Statistics Reports n Number 71 n December 20, 2013 Page 3

cites the percentage to one decimal

point. To make reading easier and to

remind the reader that the results are

based on samples and subject to

sampling error, percentages between

10% and 90% are generally shown

rounded to the nearest whole percentage.

In this report, percentages are not shown

if the sample denominator is less than

75 cases or the numerator is less than 5

cases. When a percentage or other

statistic is not shown for this reason, the

table contains an asterisk (*) signifying

that the statistic does not meet standards

of reliability or precision. For most

statistics presented in this report, the

numerators and denominators are much

larger.

When discussing results,

demographic differences between fathers

living with their children and fathers

living apart from their children are

examined, followed by a discussion of

activity-specific results. For each

activity, coresidential fathers are first

compared with noncoresidential fathers

on the percentages who did the activity

‘‘every day’’ in the last 4 weeks and the

percentages who did not do the activity

at all in the last 4 weeks. Next,

comparisons within a residential

category are made across age, marital or

cohabiting status, education, and

Hispanic origin and race by the

frequency of doing the activity. The

Results section concludes with an

examination of fathers’ views of how

good a father they are. Only statistically

significant differences between any two

percentages are mentioned in the text.

As detailed below, about 10% of

fathers have children with whom they

live and children from whom they live

apart, so the residence groups are not

independent samples. This lack of

independence could affect statistical

testing across residence groups.

However, when treating the residence

groups as independent samples, the

significance levels for differences across

group, which are the majority of

comparisons discussed below.

Fathers and measures of

father involvement

Not all men are biological fathers

and not all fathers have biological

children. In addition to fathering a child,

men may become fathers through

adoption—which confers the same legal

status, protections, and responsibilities

to the man and the child as fathering a

biological child. Men also may become

de facto fathers when they marry or

cohabit with women who have children

from previous relationships, that is, they

are raising stepchildren or their

cohabiting partner’s children. In this

report, men were defined as fathers if

they had biological or adopted children

or if step- or partner’s children were

living in the household. The percentage

of men raising step- or adopted children

who did not also have biological

children was very small, 0.2%. In

2006–2010, 44.8% of men aged 15–44

had ever had a biological child (12), and

45.0% of men aged 15–44 (28 million

of the 62 million men aged 15–44) were

living with biological, adopted, step-, or

partner’s children, or had adopted or

biological children living elsewhere

(analysis of 2006–2010 data not shown.)

Fathers were divided into two

categories based on their coresidence

with their children aged 18 years and

under. Coresidential minor children were

children with whom a man lived and

included step- or partner’s children who

were living in his household, as well as

his own biological and adopted children.

Noncoresidential minor children

consisted of a man’s biological or

adopted children who lived apart from

him. Some fathers had both coresidential

and noncoresidential children—about

10%. Identical questions about specific

activities were asked for both

coresidential and noncoresidential

children. Analyses were restricted to

activities in which the man participated

with these children within the 4 weeks

preceding the interview.

Table 1 of this report is based on

the entire sample of 10,403 men aged

15–44, but Tables 2–10 are based on the

3,928 men who are fathers. Tables 2–5

are based on the 2,200 men who had

children under age 5 years, and

Tables 6–9 are based on the 3,166 men

who had children aged 5–18 years.

Some men had children in both age

groups, so Table 10 is based on 4,336

men—3,038 men who had coresidential

children and 1,298 men who had

noncoresidential children. The sample

size of men who do not live with their

children under age 5 (Tables 2–5) is

410, so the percentages in Tables 2–5

for men who do not live with their

children have larger sampling errors

than the percentages based on the 1,790

men who live with children. The sample

sizes on which the tables are based are

shown in Table A.

Results for categories of men based

on small sample sizes, or those with

large SEs as shown in the detailed

tables, should be interpreted cautiously.

Research has shown a number of

factors that affect the extent to which

fathers are involved in their children’s

lives. This report examines five of these

factors: whether he lives with the

children, his current age, marital or

cohabitation status, Hispanic origin and

race, and education.

Table A. Distribution of fathers aged 15–44, by living arrangement and age of children:

United States, 2006–2010

With children aged:

Under 5 years 5–18 years

Living arrangement (Tables 2–5) (Tables 6–9)

residence groups were very large; the Lives with one or more children ................... 1,790 2,091 
 

associated SEs would have to increase Does not live with one or more of his children .......... 410 1,075 
 

dramatically to make the differences Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,200 3,166 
 

nonsignificant. Note that independence NOTE: Due to men living with children reporting ‘‘don’t know’’ or ‘‘refused’’ for a specific activity, Table 5 is based on 1,788 men,

was not an issue for comparisons made and Tables 7 and 9 are based on 2,090 men.

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2006–2010. between categories within a residence
Page 4	 National Health Statistics Reports n Number 71 n December 20, 2013

Fatherhood, activities with

children, and self-rating of

fathering

Men were asked about the number

and characteristics of children they had

fathered or adopted in the context of the

relationships they had with women.

They were asked if they had fathered or

adopted a child with their current wife

or partner, with any of their three most

recent sexual partners, any former wives

who had not been discussed before, and

their first cohabiting partner. Lastly, men

were asked if they had fathered any

other children with sexual partners they

had not married, or if they had adopted

any other children who had lived with

them under their care and responsibility,

not discussed in the context of a

relationship.

Information from these questions

and from the household roster was used

to identify men who had children living

with them (i.e., coresidential children),

and men who had children living apart

from them (i.e., noncoresidential

children), at the time of the interview.

Coresidential children included

biological, adopted, step-, or partner’s

children who were living in the man’s

household at the time of the interview;

noncoresidential children included

biological or adopted children that were

living outside the man’s household at

the time of interview. Men who had

children were then asked questions

about their involvement in these

children’s lives.

Men were asked about activities

they did with their coresidential and

with their noncoresidential children for

two broad age groups: preschool-aged

children (under age 5 years) and

school-aged children (aged 5–18 years),

in order to ask age-appropriate

questions. The questions about activities

that a man engaged in with his children

were summary measures asked generally

about all of his coresidential and all of

his noncoresidential children in the age

activities by age group are presented

below. For children under age 5,

activities include:

+	 Eating meals with or feeding the

children

+	 Bathing, diapering, or dressing the

children, or helping the children

bathe, dress, or use the toilet

themselves

+ Playing with the children

+ Reading to the children

For children aged 5–18, activities

include:

+	 Talking with the children about things

that happened during their day

+ Eating meals with the children

+	 Helping the children with homework

or checking that the homework had

been done

+	 Taking the children to or from

activities

Men were asked how frequently

they did each activity in the last 4

weeks. They were given a ‘‘show card’’

and asked to select one of the following

response options:

+ Not at all

+ Less than once a week

+ About once a week

+ Several times a week

+ Every day (at least once a day)

Because of the relatively small numbers

of fathers who engaged in some

activities ‘‘Less than once a week’’ and

‘‘About once a week,’’ these categories

are combined in this report.

Using a 5-point scale, fathers also

were asked to rate how good a job they

thought they were doing as a father

overall with all of their coresidential and

with all of their noncoresidential

children, aged 0–18. Response options

were ‘‘A very good job,’’ ‘‘A good job,’’

‘‘An okay job,’’ ‘‘Not a very good job,’’

and ‘‘A bad job.’’ The latter two

categories are combined in this report.

Men were classified by several

demographic characteristics: Hispanic

origin and race, current age, marital or

cohabitation status, and education.

Hispanic origin and race were tabulated

in accordance with 1997 guidelines from

the Office of Management and Budget

(31). Estimates for Hispanic men,

regardless of their race, are shown

separately from non-Hispanic men. For

non-Hispanic men, estimates are

presented for single-race white and

black men. Because of small sample

sizes, estimates for men of other racial

groups are not shown separately.

Education is shown for men aged 22–44

because men aged 15–21 may not have

completed their education at the time of

the interview. Details on these variables

can be found in previous NSFG reports

(32,33).

Results

Fatherhood among men

aged 15–44

In 2006–2010, about 38% (23.5

million) of men aged 15–44 were living

with one or more children, and about

12% (7.5 million) were living apart

from one or more of their biological or

adopted children (Table 1). Note that

these categories are not mutually

exclusive—approximately 5% of men

had children with whom they lived and

children from whom they lived apart.

These fathers are included in both

panels of Table 1. Figure 1 shows the

Table B. Distribution of fathers aged 15–44, by residential location of children:

United States, 2006–2010

Weighted

Sampled Weighted number

Residential location number percentage (in thousands)

groups—that is, the questions were not Total ................................. 3,928 100.0 27,961

asked for specific children.

This report focuses on activities that Only coresidential children....................

Only noncoresidential children .................

2,604

885

73.2

15.8

20,456

4,414

men did with their children, separately Both coresidential and noncoresidential children ...... 439 11.1 3,091

for coresidential and noncoresidential

children, in the last 4 weeks. The

NOTE: Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2006–2010.
National Health Statistics Reports n Number 71 n December 20, 2013	 Page 5

Only noncoresidential 

children 

Both coresidential and 

noncoresidential children 

SOURCES: CDC/NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2006–2010 and Table B of this report. 

73 

16 

11 

Only coresidential 

children 

Figure 1. Percent distribution of fathers aged 15–44, by where their children live: United

States, 2006–2010

percent distribution, and Table B shows

the number and percentage of fathers

who have only coresidential children,

only noncoresidential children, or both

coresidential and noncoresidential

children.

Across most characteristics in

Table 1, higher percentages of men aged

15–44 were living with their children

than were living apart from their

children, but the magnitude of the

difference varied by characteristic. For

example, about twice as many men aged

15–24 had coresidential children (6.9%)

than had noncoresidential children

(3.3%). By ages 35–44, three times as

many men had coresidential children

(64%) than had noncoresidential

children (19%). Looking at marital and

cohabiting status, six times as many

currently married men had coresidential

children (75%) than had

noncoresidential children (12%). Among

currently cohabiting men, almost three

times as many had coresidential children

(54%) than had noncoresidential

children (20%). As expected, of the

characteristics shown in Table 1, only

among men who were neither married

nor cohabiting was the percentage of

men who had noncoresidential children

(10%) higher than the percentage of

men who had coresidential children

(6.1%).

More than twice as many men aged

22–44 with a high school diploma or

less education had coresidential children

(54%) compared with noncoresidential

children (23%). Looking at men with

some college or more education, five

times as many had coresidential children

(45%) than had noncoresidential

children (8.7%).

Non-Hispanic white men aged

15–44 had the largest difference

between those with coresidential

children (37%) and those with

noncoresidential children (8.2%). The

difference was smallest among nonHispanic black men, with 33% having

coresidential children and 24% having

noncoresidential children. Among

Hispanic men, more than twice as many

had coresidential children (44%) than

had noncoresidential children (18%).

The following discussion describes

and compares men’s involvement with

their children by examining the

percentages of fathers aged 15–44 (or

aged 22–44 when comparing

percentages between educational

attainment groups) who participated in a

variety of activities in the last 4 weeks

with their children. Emphasis is given to

comparing the categories ‘‘every day’’

and ‘‘not at all,’’ although for a few

measures where these responses are less

common, another category is sometimes

cited.

Involvement in activities

with children under age 5

years

In general and as expected, a higher

percentage of fathers aged 15–44 who

lived with their children under age 5

participated in activities with their

children more frequently than fathers

who lived apart from their children

(Figure 2). Similarly, fathers with

noncoresidential children were more

likely to not have done the activity at

all in the last 4 weeks compared with

fathers with coresidential children

(Tables 2–5). The magnitude of the

differences between coresidential and

noncoresidential fathers varied by

activity. Differences also were seen by

demographic characteristics within

groups of coresidential and

noncoresidential fathers. These

differences are discussed below.

How often fathers fed or ate meals

with their children

A higher percentage of fathers who

lived with their children under age 5 fed

or ate meals with them daily—72%

compared with 7.9% of fathers with

noncoresidential children. A higher

percentage of fathers living apart from

their children did not feed or eat meals

with them at all in the last 4

weeks—43% compared with 0.8% of

fathers with coresidential children

(Table 2).

Variation by Hispanic origin and

race was seen in the percentages of

coresidential fathers who ate meals with

their children every day. Specifically,

Hispanic fathers were less likely to eat

meals with their children every day

(64%) than were non-Hispanic white

(74%) or non-Hispanic black (78%)

fathers (Table 2).

More differences across

demographic categories were seen

among fathers who did not live with one

or more of their children.

+	 Higher percentages of older fathers—

44% of those aged 25–34 and 60% of

those aged 35–44—had not eaten a
Page 6	 National Health Statistics Reports n Number 71 n December 20, 2013

0 

20 

40 

60 

80 

100 

Have children they live with Have children they live apart from

72 

58 

29 

8 8 10 

5 

81 

Fed or ate meals with Bathed, dressed, or diapered Played with Read to 

SOURCES: CDC/NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2006–2010 and Tables 2–5 of this report. Percent 

Figure 2. Percentage of fathers aged 15–44 who have children under age 5 years who

engaged in the specified activity daily in the last 4 weeks, by whether the children live

with or apart from them: United States, 2006–2010

meal with or fed their

noncoresidential children in the last 4

weeks, compared with 25% of fathers

aged 15–24.

+ More than one-half of fathers aged

22–44 with a high school diploma or

less education (54%) had not eaten a

meal with their noncoresidential

children in the last

4 weeks—a significantly higher

percentage than fathers with some

college or more education (33%).

+ Hispanic fathers (58%) aged 15–44

were significantly more likely to have

not eaten a meal with their

noncoresidential children compared

with white (35%) or black (31%)

fathers.

How often fathers bathed,

diapered, or dressed their children

Nine out of 10 fathers (90%) who

lived with children under age 5 bathed,

diapered, or dressed the children, or

helped them bathe, dress, or use the

toilet ‘‘every day’’ or ‘‘several times a

week,’’ compared with 31% of fathers

who lived apart from their children

(Table 3). Restricting the figures to

those who did these activities ‘‘every

day,’’ the figures are 58% for fathers

who lived with their children and 8.3%

for fathers who did not live with their

children.

There was a significant difference

by Hispanic origin and race among

fathers with coresidential children:

Black fathers (70%) were most likely to

have bathed, dressed, diapered, or

helped their children use the toilet every

day compared with white (60%) and

Hispanic fathers (45%).

Some demographic differences

were seen among fathers with

noncoresidential children:

+	 Two-thirds of fathers aged 35–44

(68%) had not bathed, dressed, or

diapered their noncoresidential

children in the last 4 weeks. This

compares with one-third of fathers

aged 15–24 (31%).

+	 A higher percentage of fathers aged

22–44 with a high school diploma or

less education (60%) had not bathed,

dressed, or diapered their children in

the last 4 weeks compared with

fathers with some college or more

education (33%).

+	 About two-thirds of Hispanic fathers

aged 15–44 (66%) had not bathed,

dressed, or diapered their children in

the last 4 weeks, significantly more

than black (34%) or white fathers

(39%).

How often fathers played with

their children

Practically all fathers who lived

with children under age 5 played with

them: Among coresidential fathers, 81%

played with them daily, and 18% played

with them several times a week

(Table 4). A higher percentage of

currently married fathers (82%) played

with their coresidential children every

day, compared with fathers who were

not currently married or cohabiting

(68%).

Among fathers with noncoresidential

children under age 5, about 4 out of 10

played with them daily (10%) or several

times a week (29%), while 37% did not

play with their children at all in the last 4

weeks. Some differences by demographic

characteristics include:

+	 A larger percentage of older fathers

had not played with their

noncoresidential children compared

with the youngest fathers. Forty-seven

percent of fathers aged 35–44 and

40% of fathers aged 25–34 had not

played with their children at all in the

last 4 weeks. This compares with

22% of fathers aged 15–24.

+	 Fathers aged 22–44 with a high

school diploma or less education

were almost twice as likely (47%) to

have not played with their

noncoresidential children in the last 4

weeks compared with fathers with

some college or more education

(26%).

+	 A higher percentage of Hispanic

fathers aged 15–44 (52%) had not

played with their noncoresidential

children in the last 4 weeks compared

with white (30%) and black (25%)

fathers.

How often fathers read to their

children

Fathers who lived with children

under age 5 were six times more likely

than fathers who did not live with their

young children to have read to them
National Health Statistics Reports n Number 71 n December 20, 2013	 Page 7

daily, 29% compared with 4.9%

(Table 5). On the other hand, 16% of

men with coresidential children and

52% of men with noncoresidential

children had not read to them at all in

the last 4 weeks.

Significant differences were

observed in the percentages of fathers

with coresidential children who read to

them, by age, marital or cohabitation

status, education, and Hispanic origin

and race (Table 5).

+ Older fathers were more likely than

younger fathers to read to their

coresidential children. Specifically,

34% of fathers aged 35–44 read to

their coresidential children every day,

significantly more than fathers aged

15–24 (20%). Older fathers were less

likely (13%) to have not read to their

children at all compared with younger

fathers (24%).

+ Cohabiting fathers were twice as

likely (30%) to have not read to their

children at all in the last 4 weeks

compared with married fathers (12%)

and fathers who were neither married

nor cohabiting (14%).

+ Fathers aged 22–44 with some

college or more education were more

likely to have read to their children

every day (33%) compared with

fathers with a high school diploma or

less education (24%).

+	 A smaller percentage of white fathers

aged 15–44 had not read to their

coresidential children at all (8.4%)

compared with black (19%) or

Hispanic fathers (32%).

This difference in reading to their

children is less apparent among fathers

and their noncoresidential children, with

significant differences only by education

and Hispanic origin and race.

+	 A larger percentage of fathers aged

22–44 with a high school diploma or

less education (60%) had not read to

their noncoresidential children at all

in the last 4 weeks compared with

fathers with some college or more

education (35%).

+	 A larger percentage of fathers aged

15–44 of Hispanic origin (70%) had

not read to their noncoresidential

children at all in the last 4 weeks

compared with black (47%) and

white (36%) fathers.

SOURCES: CDC/NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2006–2010 and Tables 6–9 of this report. Percent 

Have children they live with Have children they live apart from

Ate meals with Took to or from 

activities 

Talked about day Helped or checked 

homework 

66 

21 

3 4 

16 

6 

65 

30 

0 

20 

40 

60 

80 

100 

Figure 3. Percentage of fathers aged 15–44 who have children aged 5–18 years who

engaged in the specified activity daily in the last 4 weeks, by whether the children live

with or apart from them: United States, 2006–2010

Involvement in activities

with children aged 5–18

years

Tables 6–9 show data on fathers’

activities with their school-aged children

(aged 5–18). As was seen with children

under age 5, fathers aged 15–44 who

lived with older children were more

likely to participate in activities with

them every day and less likely to not

participate at all in activities in the last

4 weeks, compared with fathers who

lived apart from their children

(Tables 6–9, Figure 3). Additionally,

variation across demographic

characteristics was found in the level of

father involvement for specific activities

with coresidential and with

noncoresidential school-aged children.

How often fathers ate meals with

their children

Among fathers who lived with their

school-aged children, 66% ate meals

with them every day in the last 4 weeks

(Table 6) and only 1.4% did not eat any

meals at all with them. By comparison,

among fathers who did not live with

their school-aged children, 2.9% ate

meals with them every day, and 53%

did not eat meals with them at all in the

last 4 weeks.

Differences by marital or cohabiting

status and Hispanic origin and race were

seen among fathers with coresidential

children:

+	 Currently married (68%) and

cohabiting (64%) fathers were more

likely to eat meals with their

school-aged children every day than

were fathers who were neither

married nor cohabiting (47%).

+	 A larger percentage of Hispanic

fathers (71%) ate meals with their

children daily than did white fathers

(64%).

Differences by marital or cohabiting

status and Hispanic origin and race were

also seen among fathers who did not

live with their children:

+	 A smaller percentage of fathers who

were neither married nor cohabiting

(38%) did not eat any meals at all

with these children in the last 4
Page 8	 National Health Statistics Reports n Number 71 n December 20, 2013

weeks compared with married (61%)

or cohabiting (61%) fathers.

+ Smaller percentages of non-Hispanic

white (43%) and non-Hispanic black

(46%) fathers did not eat meals at all

with their noncoresidential children

compared with Hispanic fathers

(72%).

How often fathers took their

children to or from activities

Twenty-one percent of fathers who

lived with their school-aged children

and 3.9% of fathers with

noncoresidential children took them to

or from activities every day in the last 4

weeks (Table 7). Conversely, 15% of

fathers with coresidential children and

71% of fathers with noncoresidential

children did not take them to or from

activities at all. Significant differences

by demographic characteristics were

found among coresidential and

noncoresidential fathers.

Among fathers with coresidential

children:

+ A larger percentage of currently

married fathers (21%) took their

school-aged children to or from

activities every day compared with

cohabiting fathers (15%).

+ Fewer currently married fathers

(13%) than cohabiting fathers (21%)

did not take their children to or from

activities at all in the last 4 weeks.

+ One in five fathers aged 22–44 with a

high school diploma or less education

(21%) did not take their school-aged

children to or from activities at all in

the last 4 weeks. This compares with

8.2% of coresidential fathers with

some college or more education.

+ A higher percentage of black fathers

aged 15–44 (27%) took their children

to or from activities every day

compared with white fathers (20%).

Among fathers with

noncoresidential, school-aged children:

+ Three-quarters of currently married

(77%) and currently cohabiting (76%)

fathers did not take their

noncoresidential children to or from

activities at all in the last 4 weeks

compared with 63% of fathers who

were neither married nor cohabiting.

+	 About three of every four fathers

aged 22–44 with a high school

diploma or less education (75%) had

not taken their school-aged children

to or from activities in the last 4

weeks compared with 64% of fathers

with some college or more education.

+	 A higher percentage of Hispanic

fathers aged 15–44 (83%) had not

taken their children to or from

activities compared with white (70%)

or black (58%) fathers.

How often fathers talked with

children about things that

happened during the day

Two-thirds of fathers aged 15–44

who lived with their school-aged

children (65%) talked with one or more

of these children about things that had

happened during the child’s day every

day, as did 16% of fathers who lived

apart from their children (Table 8).

Among fathers who did not live with

their children, 37% did not talk to their

children at all about things that

happened during the day in the last 4

weeks; this compares with 1.1% of

fathers with coresidential children.

The only demographic difference

found among men with coresidential

children was by marital or cohabiting

status. A smaller percentage of

cohabiting fathers (58%) talked about

things that happened during the child’s

day with one or more of their schoolaged children every day compared with

fathers who were neither married nor

cohabiting (71%) or currently married

(66%).

Differences by marital or cohabiting

status and Hispanic origin and race were

found for fathers with noncoresidential

children.

+	 Currently married fathers (8.0%) were

less likely to have talked with their

noncoresidential children every day

about things that had happened

during the children’s day compared

with fathers who were neither

married nor cohabiting (20%) and

fathers who were cohabiting (23%).

+	 Married fathers (47%) and cohabiting

fathers (43%) were twice as likely to

have not talked with their

noncoresidential children at all in the

last 4 weeks compared with fathers

who were neither married nor

cohabiting (23%).

+	 Among Hispanic fathers who did not

live with their children, 63% did not

talk with their children at all in the

last 4 weeks about things that had

happened during the children’s day,

compared with 29% of white fathers

and 21% of black fathers.

How often fathers helped with

homework or checked that

homework was done

Among fathers who lived with

school-aged children, 30% said they

helped the children with homework or

checked that the children had done their

homework every day (Table 9). This

compares with 6.0% of fathers who did

not live with their children. About 14%

of coresidential fathers had not helped

these children with homework at all in

the last 4 weeks, and neither did 69% of

fathers with noncoresidential children.

For the most part, there was no

difference by demographic characteristic

in the percentages of fathers with

coresidential, school-aged children who

helped their children with homework or

checked that the homework had been

done.

There were two exceptions:

+	 A larger percentage of cohabiting

fathers with coresidential children

(20%) did not help their children

with homework at all compared with

currently married fathers (13%).

+	 A larger percentage of black fathers

(41%) had helped their coresidential

children with homework every day in

the last 4 weeks compared with

Hispanic (29%) or white (28%)

fathers.

There were also differences in the

percentages of fathers with

noncoresidential children who helped

with or checked that homework had

been done by marital or cohabiting

status and Hispanic origin and race.

+	 Larger percentages of currently

married (78%) and cohabiting (71%)

fathers had not helped their

noncoresidential children with
National Health Statistics Reports n Number 71 n December 20, 2013	 Page 9

homework at all in the last 4 weeks

compared with fathers who were

neither married nor cohabiting (58%).

+ Larger percentages of Hispanic (82%)

and white (70%) fathers had not

helped their noncoresidential children

with homework at all in the last 4

weeks compared with black fathers

(56%).

How good a father men

perceive themselves to be

In general, fathers aged 15–44 who

lived with their children aged 0–18

(44%) were about twice as likely as

fathers who did not live with their

children (21%) to say they are doing ‘‘a

very good job’’ as a father (Table 10).

While 0.6% of coresidential fathers

think they are doing ‘‘a not very good

or a bad job,’’ 24% of noncoresidential

fathers think they are doing ‘‘a not very

good or bad job.’’

Conclusion

The goal of this report is to

document the extent of father

involvement in their children’s lives

using the sample of 3,928 fathers aged

15–44 in the 2006–2010 NSFG. While

other surveys have collected data on

father involvement in recent decades

(19,34–37), the NSFG sample is large,

recent, and nationally representative. It

also has multiple indicators of father

involvement for both fathers who live

with their children and fathers who live

apart from their children.

This report is limited to four

measures of father involvement for

children under age 5 years and to four

measures of involvement for children

aged 5–18 years. Identical measures

were compared for fathers aged 15–44

who lived with and who lived apart

from their children. Parental

involvement is complex and

multidimensional. The measures selected

for the survey and examined here were

chosen because previous research has

found them to be related to positive

outcomes for children (8,19,23).

Multiple indicators are shown because

no one indicator is the key fatherinvolvement activity that benefits all

children more than others (8,17,37).

Some of the findings shown here

are worth reiterating, as there was

variation in father involvement by

activity. For example, for children under

age 5, the study found that 96% of

resident fathers ate meals with their

children every day or several times a

week; 98% played with children that

often; 90% bathed, diapered, or dressed

their children every day or several times

a week; and 60% read to their children

that often. For the fathers who did not

live with their children, 30% ate meals

with them every day or several times a

week; 39% played with their children

several times a week or more; 31%

bathed, diapered, or dressed their

children several times a week or more;

and 23% read to their children several

times a week or more.

Variation in the frequency of doing

activities also was evident among

fathers with school-aged children (aged

5–18). For fathers who lived with these

children, 93.0% ate meals with their

children, and 92.5% talked with these

children about things that happened

during their day several times a week or

every day. This compares with 63% of

fathers who helped with or checked

homework and 55% of fathers who took

these children to or from activities.

This variability in involvement by

activity is one reason to examine all of

the measures available in NSFG, rather

than only the ones reported here.

Additional research with NSFG could

focus on some of the measures of father

involvement not included in this report

(see Introduction), including

involvement in the last 12 months, and

correlates of involvement such as work

hours and schedules and payment of

child support.

The 2006–2010 NSFG data has

several limitations in examining father

involvement. First, only men aged

15–44 were included in the survey,

limiting what can be said about

involvement with their children by

fathers aged 45 and over. Involvement

may differ among these fathers

compared with fathers aged 15–44, but

this report found very few differences

by age in the level of involvement in

activities. The differences by age that

were found suggest that older fathers

may be less involved than fathers aged

15–44 in their children’s lives,

especially fathers with noncoresidential

children aged 0–4.

A second limitation is that the

father involvement questions were not

asked for a specific, focal child if

fathers had more than one coresidential

or noncoresidential child in an age

range. It is not clear, then, how these

fathers responded if they had different

levels of involvement with the different

children. For example, if a man lived

with a 6-month-old baby and a 3-yearold child, and he spent more time with

the child than with the baby, it is not

possible to know whether he

‘‘averaged’’ the time he spent with each

child or answered questions in regard to

just one.

Another limitation of the 2006–

2010 NSFG was the relatively small

number of measures across dimensions

of father involvement. In response to

these limitations, NSFG, which began

interviewing in September 2011, was

redesigned to include multiple measures

of more dimensions of father

involvement and to ask these questions

about a specific, focal child within each

residence category. In this redesigned

survey, the youngest coresidential and

the youngest noncoresidential children

are selected as the focal children when

fathers are asked how often they engage

in the father-involvement activities. The

redesign and the addition of multiple

questions will allow researchers to

examine father involvement in more

depth than was possible here.

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Page 12 National Health Statistics Reports n Number 71 n December 20, 2013

Table 1. Number of men aged 15–44 and number and percentage who have children aged 18 years and under living with and living apart

from them, by selected characteristics: United States, 2006–2010

Characteristic

Total number

of men

(in thousands)

Lives with one

or more children

Number (in thousands)

and percentage (SE)

Lives apart from one

or more children

Number (in thousands)

and percentage (SE)

Total1 ........................................ 62,128 23,546 37.9 (0.95) 7,505 12.1 (0.60)

Age in years

15–24 .......................................

25–34 .......................................

35–44 .......................................

21,210

19,986

20,931

1,473 6.9 (0.75)

8,691 43.5 (1.31)

13,383 63.9 (1.41)

701 3.3 (0.42)

2,798 14.0 (1.09)

4,006 19.1 (1.14)

Marital or cohabiting status

Currently married ................................

Currently cohabiting ...............................

Not currently married or cohabiting......................

23,357

7,554

31,217

17,596 75.3 (1.54)

4,053 53.6 (2.61)

1,898 6.1 (0.53)

2,838 12.2 (0.97)

1,532 20.3 (1.97)

3,135 10.0 (0.62)

Education2

High school diploma or GED or less education ..............

Some college or more education .......................

21,072

25,987

11,334 53.8 (1.46)

11,711 45.1 (1.71)

4,887 23.2 (1.24)

2,269 8.7 (0.74)

Hispanic origin and race

Hispanic or Latino ................................

Not Hispanic or Latino

White, single race...............................

Black or African American, single race ..................

11,847

37,283

7,341

5,154 43.5 (1.68)

13,674 36.7 (1.28)

2,453 33.4 (1.77)

2,170 18.3 (1.28)

3,059 8.2 (0.69)

1,749 23.8 (1.78)

1

Includes men of other or multiple-race and origin groups, not shown separately. Men who live with their children also may have children they do not live with currently; they are included in both
 

categories.
 2

Limited to men aged 22–44 at time of interview. GED is General Educational Development high school equivalency diploma.
 

NOTES: SE is standard error. Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding.
 

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2006–2010.
 
National Health Statistics Reports n Number 71 n December 20, 2013 Page 13

Table 2. Number and percent distribution of fathers aged 15–44 with children under age 5 years, by how often they fed or ate meals with

their children in the last 4 weeks, according to their living arrangement: United States, 2006–2010

Number Once a Several times

Characteristic (in thousands) Total Not at all week or less a week Every day

Lives with one or more children Percent distribution (standard error)

Total1 ................. ................. 12,614 100.0 0.8 (0.24) 3.2 (0.63) 24.1 (1.54) 71.8 (1.55)

Age in years

15–24 ................................. 1,353 100.0 3.2 (1.73) 4.1 (1.78) 24.2 (4.20) 68.5 (4.45)

25–34 ................................. 6,314 100.0 0.9 (0.32) 2.7 (0.66) 24.9 (1.96) 71.6 (2.04)

35–44 ................................. 4,947 100.0 * * 3.8 (1.21) 23.0 (2.32) 73.0 (2.37)

Marital or cohabiting status

Currently married .......................... 9,577 100.0 0.6 (0.17) 3.2 (0.77) 23.6 (1.74) 72.6 (1.84)

Currently cohabiting......................... 2,394 100.0 2.0 (1.18) 4.1 (1.34) 24.0 (3.15) 69.9 (3.55)

Not currently married or cohabiting ............... 644 100.0 * * * * 31.8 (6.10) 66.9 (6.06)

Education2

High school diploma or GED or less education ........ 5,620 100.0 1.4 (0.54) 3.8 (0.96) 24.5 (2.28) 70.3 (2.38)

Some college or more education................. 6,536 100.0 0.2 (0.08) 2.6 (0.80) 23.8 (2.32) 73.3 (2.48)

Hispanic origin and race

Hispanic or Latino .......................... 2,948 100.0 1.4 (0.59) 6.3 (1.45) 28.4 (3.81) 63.9 (3.46)

Not Hispanic or Latino

White, single race ........................ 7,237 100.0 0.3 (0.14) 1.8 (0.73) 24.0 (2.14) 73.9 (2.15)

Black or African American, single race ............ 1,358 100.0 * * 5.7 (1.94) 14.4 (2.72) 78.2 (3.45)

Does not live with one or more of his children

Total1 ................................... 2,208 100.0 42.8 (3.94) 27.2 (3.71) 22.1 (2.63) 7.9 (1.96)

Age in years

15–24 ................................. 589 100.0 24.7 (6.31) 29.0 (6.34) 33.7 (6.12) 12.5 (4.41)

25–34 ................................. 1,094 100.0 44.1 (5.12) 35.3 (5.66) 16.6 (3.41) 4.0 (1.66)

35–44 ................................. 525 100.0 60.4 (7.91) 8.2 (2.84) 20.4 (6.19) 11.0 (5.62)

Marital or cohabiting status

Currently married .......................... 511 100.0 * * * * * * * *

Currently cohabiting......................... 384 100.0 * * * * * * * *

Not currently married or cohabiting ............... 1,313 100.0 31.2 (4.43) 29.5 (4.85) 30.3 (3.63) 8.9 (2.74)

Education2

High school diploma or GED or less education ........ 1,378 100.0 54.0 (5.34) 23.5 (4.86) 16.1 (2.90) 6.4 (2.48)

Some college or more education................. 481 100.0 32.9 (6.79) 37.4 (8.36) 22.2 (6.23) 7.4 (3.64)

Hispanic origin and race

Hispanic or Latino .......................... 760 100.0 58.0 (6.41) 14.6 (3.53) 18.7 (4.77) 8.6 (4.15)

Not Hispanic or Latino

White, single race ........................ 723 100.0 35.2 (7.08) 40.9 (7.80) 20.0 (4.08) * *

Black or African American, single race ............ 622 100.0 31.0 (4.97) 26.5 (5.44) 29.8 (4.51) 12.6 (3.37)

* Figure does not meet standards of reliability or precision. 1

Includes fathers of other or multiple-race and origin groups, not shown separately. Fathers who live with children also may have children they do not live with currently; they are included in both
 

categories.
 2

Limited to fathers aged 22–44 at time of interview. GED is General Educational Development high school equivalency diploma.
 

NOTE: Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding.
 

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2006–2010.
 
Page 14 National Health Statistics Reports n Number 71 n December 20, 2013

Table 3. Number and percent distribution of fathers aged 15–44 with children under age 5 years, by how often they bathed, diapered, or

dressed the children or helped the children bathe, dress, or use the toilet in the last 4 weeks, according to their living arrangement:

United States, 2006–2010

Number Once a week Several times

Characteristic (in thousands) Total Not at all or less a week Every day

Lives with one or more children Percent distribution (standard error)

Total1 ................. ................. 12,614 100.0 4.0 (0.75) 6.4 (0.77) 32.0 (1.68) 57.6 (2.00)

Age in years

15–24 ................................. 1,353 100.0 6.0 (2.39) 4.6 (1.43) 28.3 (4.46) 61.1 (4.90)

25–34 ................................. 6,314 100.0 3.4 (0.69) 6.9 (0.99) 30.7 (1.94) 59.1 (2.17)

35–44 ................................. 4,947 100.0 4.3 (1.46) 6.3 (1.46) 34.7 (3.04) 54.7 (3.32)

Marital or cohabiting status

Currently married .......................... 9,577 100.0 3.6 (0.83) 6.3 (0.91) 32.8 (2.00) 57.3 (2.39)

Currently cohabiting......................... 2,394 100.0 6.3 (1.87) 7.9 (1.53) 25.7 (2.89) 60.1 (3.59)

Not currently married or cohabiting ............... 644 100.0 1.7 (0.91) 1.9 (0.83) 43.8 (6.30) 52.6 (6.19)

Education2

High school diploma or GED or less education ........ 5,620 100.0 5.4 (1.06) 8.3 (1.37) 32.7 (2.18) 53.6 (2.37)

Some college or more education................. 6,536 100.0 2.9 (1.05) 4.8 (1.08) 31.8 (2.63) 60.5 (3.00)

Hispanic origin and race

Hispanic or Latino .......................... 2,948 100.0 7.6 (1.59) 12.7 (2.03) 34.7 (2.76) 45.0 (3.35)

Not Hispanic or Latino

White, single race ........................ 7,237 100.0 2.1 (0.86) 4.2 (0.99) 33.6 (2.37) 60.0 (2.74)

Black or African American, single race ............ 1,358 100.0 6.5 (2.60) 5.9 (2.04) 17.1 (2.79) 70.4 (3.58)

Does not live with one or more of his children

Total1 .................................. 2,208 100.0 47.4 (4.03) 21.4 (3.50) 22.8 (2.93) 8.3 (2.01)

Age in years

15–24 ................................. 589 100.0 31.4 (6.54) 20.1 (5.39) 33.1 (6.20) 15.3 (5.12)

25–34 ................................. 1,094 100.0 46.1 (5.45) 29.4 (5.77) 21.2 (4.40) 3.2 (1.47)

35–44 ................................. 525 100.0 68.1 (6.97) 6.2 (2.91) 14.7 (3.91) 10.9 (5.62)

Marital or cohabiting status

Currently married .......................... 511 100.0 * * * * * * * *

Currently cohabiting......................... 384 100.0 * * * * * * * *

Not currently married or cohabiting ............... 1,313 100.0 36.6 (4.59) 22.6 (4.44) 30.6 (4.19) 10.2 (2.85)

Education2

High school diploma or GED or less education ........ 1,378 100.0 60.2 (5.29) 17.4 (4.16) 16.6 (3.53) 5.8 (2.34)

Some college or more education................. 481 100.0 33.2 (6.43) 34.9 (8.48) 24.6 (6.52) 7.3 (3.64)

Hispanic origin and race

Hispanic or Latino .......................... 760 100.0 65.7 (5.94) 11.3 (3.41) 15.7 (3.85) 7.3 (3.94)

Not Hispanic or Latino

White, single race ........................ 723 100.0 38.6 (7.34) 27.5 (7.51) 27.3 (6.48) 6.6 (3.10)

Black or African American, single race ............ 622 100.0 34.2 (4.53) 24.4 (5.30) 28.7 (4.39) 12.7 (3.31)

* Figure does not meet standards of reliability or precision. 1

Includes fathers of other or multiple-race and origin groups, not shown separately. Fathers who live with children also may have children they do not live with currently; they are included in both
 

categories.
 2

Limited to fathers aged 22–44 at time of interview. GED is General Educational Development high school equivalency diploma.
 

NOTE: Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding.
 

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2006–2010.
 
National Health Statistics Reports n Number 71 n December 20, 2013 Page 15

Table 4. Number and percent distribution of fathers aged 15–44 with children under age 5 years, by how often they played with their

children in the last 4 weeks, according to their living arrangement: United States, 2006–2010

Number Once a week Several times

Characteristic (in thousands) Total Not at all or less a week Every day

Lives with one or more children Percent distribution (standard error)

Total1 ................................... 12,614 100.0 0.4 (0.18) 1.3 (0.30) 17.6 (1.28) 80.7 (1.32)

Age in years

15–24 ................................. 1,353 100.0 * * * * 14.9 (3.08) 81.1 (3.32)

25–34 ................................. 6,314 100.0 0.3 (0.11) 1.7 (0.47) 16.1 (1.53) 82.0 (1.63)

35–44 ................................. 4,947 100.0 * * 0.6 (0.34) 20.4 (2.41) 79.0 (2.45)

Marital or cohabiting status

Currently married .......................... 9,577 100.0 * * 0.9 (0.33) 17.4 (1.39) 81.6 (1.46)

Currently cohabiting......................... 2,394 100.0 1.3 (0.88) 2.7 (1.11) 15.4 (2.71) 80.7 (2.72)

Not currently married or cohabiting ............... 644 100.0 * * 1.6 (0.85) 29.8 (6.27) 68.3 (6.22)

Education2

High school diploma or GED or less education ........ 5,620 100.0 0.7 (0.39) 1.7 (0.53) 17.9 (1.70) 79.7 (1.70)

Some college or more education................. 6,536 100.0 * * 1.0 (0.44) 17.6 (2.13) 81.4 (2.20)

Hispanic origin and race

Hispanic or Latino .......................... 2,948 100.0 0.5 (0.26) 2.7 (0.92) 22.6 (2.40) 74.1 (2.38)

Not Hispanic or Latino

White, single race ........................ 7,237 100.0 * * 0.6 (0.28) 16.6 (1.81) 82.7 (1.86)

Black or African American, single race ............ 1,358 100.0 * * * * 13.9 (2.64) 82.2 (3.64)

Does not live with one or more of his children

Total1 ................. ................. 2,208 100.0 37.0 (3.96) 24.1 (3.09) 28.5 (3.20) 10.4 (2.14)

Age in years

15–24 ................................. 589 100.0 22.4 (6.49) 24.5 (5.61) 34.5 (6.11) 18.7 (5.35)

25–34 ................................. 1,094 100.0 40.4 (5.09) 25.5 (4.38) 28.7 (4.91) 5.4 (1.80)

35–44 ................................. 525 100.0 46.5 (7.85) 20.6 (7.59) 21.4 (6.20) 11.5 (5.63)

Marital or cohabiting status

Currently married .......................... 511 100.0 * * * * * * * *

Currently cohabiting......................... 384 100.0 * * * * * * * *

Not currently married or cohabiting ............... 1,313 100.0 25.2 (4.42) 24.1 (3.74) 37.9 (4.09) 12.8 (3.06)

Education2

High school diploma or GED or less education ........ 1,378 100.0 47.3 (5.59) 20.8 (3.99) 24.4 (4.21) 7.5 (2.55)

Some college or more education................. 481 100.0 26.4 (6.11) 38.6 (8.51) 27.0 (6.82) 8.1 (3.66)

Hispanic origin and race

Hispanic or Latino .......................... 760 100.0 52.3 (7.64) 17.6 (5.03) 20.1 (4.97) 10.0 (4.17)

Not Hispanic or Latino

White, single race ........................ 723 100.0 29.7 (6.68) 28.0 (7.02) 35.8 (7.06) 6.6 (3.12)

Black or African American, single race ............ 622 100.0 24.8 (4.64) 26.1 (5.56) 32.7 (4.68) 16.5 (3.60)

* Figure does not meet standards of reliability or precision. 1

Includes fathers of other or multiple-race and origin groups, not shown separately. Fathers who live with children also may have children they do not live with currently; they are included in both
 

categories.
 2

Limited to fathers aged 22–44 at time of interview. GED is General Educational Development high school equivalency diploma.
 

NOTE: Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding.
 

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2006–2010.
 
Page 16 National Health Statistics Reports n Number 71 n December 20, 2013

Table 5. Number and percent distribution of fathers aged 15–44 with children under age 5 years, by how often they read to their children

in the last 4 weeks, according to their living arrangement: United States, 2006–2010

Number Once a week Several times

Characteristic (in thousands) Total Not at all or less a week Every day

Lives with one or more children Percent distribution (standard error)

Total1 ................. ................. 12,611 100.0 15.7 (1.39) 24.5 (1.46) 30.9 (1.42) 28.9 (1.62)

Age in years

15–24 ................................. 1,353 100.0 23.5 (4.11) 27.2 (4.74) 28.8 (4.68) 20.4 (4.65)

25–34 ................................. 6,312 100.0 15.9 (1.64) 26.0 (1.86) 30.9 (1.67) 27.2 (2.05)

35–44 ................................. 4,946 100.0 13.3 (2.40) 21.9 (2.69) 31.3 (3.00) 33.5 (2.99)

Marital or cohabiting status

Currently married .......................... 9,575 100.0 12.3 (1.44) 24.1 (1.76) 32.8 (1.62) 30.8 (1.83)

Currently cohabiting......................... 2,394 100.0 29.5 (3.11) 27.2 (3.34) 20.0 (3.08) 23.3 (2.94)

Not currently married or cohabiting ............... 642 100.0 14.4 (5.78) 20.0 (4.75) 43.2 (6.84) 22.5 (4.91)

Education2

High school diploma or GED or less education ........ 5,617 100.0 23.7 (2.10) 27.7 (1.95) 24.3 (2.11) 24.3 (2.00)

Some college or more education................. 6,536 100.0 8.4 (1.48) 20.9 (2.12) 37.4 (2.43) 33.3 (2.42)

Hispanic origin and race

Hispanic or Latino .......................... 2,945 100.0 31.8 (2.74) 28.4 (2.91) 17.9 (2.17) 21.9 (3.97)

Not Hispanic or Latino

White, single race ........................ 7,237 100.0 8.4 (1.25) 24.9 (1.99) 36.5 (1.94) 30.2 (2.13)

Black or African American, single race ............ 1,358 100.0 18.5 (3.13) 17.4 (2.88) 29.2 (4.49) 34.9 (4.78)

Does not live with one or more of his children

Total1 ................. ................. 2,208 100.0 52.0 (3.95) 25.5 (3.63) 17.6 (3.07) 4.9 (1.72)

Age in years

15–24 ................................. 589 100.0 48.3 (6.11) 28.6 (6.01) 18.4 (5.67) 4.7 (2.91)

25–34 ................................. 1,094 100.0 50.7 (5.56) 28.0 (5.28) 19.4 (4.33) 1.8 (0.91)

35–44 ................................. 525 100.0 59.0 (8.09) 16.6 (6.28) 12.9 (5.04) 11.5 (5.63)

Marital or cohabiting status

Currently married .......................... 511 100.0 * * * * * * * *

Currently cohabiting......................... 384 100.0 * * * * * * * *

Not currently married or cohabiting ............... 1,313 100.0 45.9 (4.98) 26.1 (4.33) 20.9 (4.03) 7.2 (2.77)

Education2

High school diploma or GED or less education ........ 1,378 100.0 60.3 (5.26) 20.4 (3.93) 15.4 (3.58) 3.9 (2.10)

Some college or more education................. 481 100.0 34.5 (6.45) 40.7 (8.27) 17.3 (5.79) 7.4 (3.64)

Hispanic origin and race

Hispanic or Latino .......................... 760 100.0 70.0 (5.83) 11.0 (2.59) 14.6 (4.35) * *

Not Hispanic or Latino

White, single race ........................ 723 100.0 36.1 (7.21) 34.5 (7.81) 26.2 (7.10) 3.2 (1.88)

Black or African American, single race ............ 622 100.0 47.4 (6.40) 31.2 (6.03) 13.5 (4.09) 7.8 (2.83)

* Figure does not meet standards of reliability or precision. 1

Includes fathers of other or multiple-race and origin groups, not shown separately. Fathers who live with children also may have children they do not live with currently; they are included in both
 

categories.
 2

Limited to fathers aged 22–44 at time of interview. GED is General Educational Development high school equivalency diploma.
 

NOTE: Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding.
 

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2006–2010.
 
National Health Statistics Reports n Number 71 n December 20, 2013 Page 17

Table 6. Number and percent distribution of fathers aged 15–44 with children aged 5–18 years, by how often they ate meals with their

children in the last 4 weeks, according to their living arrangement: United States, 2006–2010

Number Once a week Several times

Characteristic (in thousands) Total Not at all or less a week Every day

Lives with one or more children Percent distribution (standard error)

Total1 ................. ................. 16,980 100.0 1.4 (0.42) 5.7 (0.64) 27.5 (1.56) 65.5 (1.63)

Age in years

15–24 ................................. 275 100.0 * * * * * * * *

25–34 ................................. 5,115 100.0 2.5 (0.80) 3.8 (0.81) 24.5 (2.09) 69.2 (2.41)

35–44 ................................. 11,591 100.0 0.9 (0.35) 6.5 (0.91) 28.9 (1.94) 63.7 (2.05)

Marital or cohabiting status

Currently married .......................... 12,997 100.0 0.9 (0.32) 4.7 (0.71) 26.5 (1.80) 67.9 (1.90)

Currently cohabiting......................... 2,540 100.0 2.0 (0.99) 7.7 (1.84) 26.3 (3.46) 63.9 (3.37)

Not currently married or cohabiting ............... 1,444 100.0 * * 10.7 (2.98) 38.5 (5.32) 46.5 (4.88)

Education2

High school diploma or GED or less education ........ 8,496 100.0 1.1 (0.51) 6.9 (0.98) 23.7 (2.18) 68.3 (2.33)

Some college or more education................. 8,423 100.0 1.6 (0.67) 4.5 (0.83) 31.1 (2.28) 62.8 (2.44)

Hispanic origin and race

Hispanic or Latino .......................... 3,697 100.0 1.2 (0.64) 6.1 (1.09) 21.6 (2.61) 71.1 (2.27)

Not Hispanic or Latino

White, single race ........................ 9,790 100.0 1.0 (0.48) 4.4 (0.81) 30.3 (2.19) 64.2 (2.23)

Black or African American, single race ............ 1,797 100.0 * * 10.5 (2.09) 25.6 (3.75) 61.7 (4.67)

Does not live with one or more of his children

Total1 ................. ................. 6,280 100.0 52.5 (2.57) 31.5 (2.33) 13.0 (1.48) 2.9 (0.82)

Age in years

15–24 ................................. 141 100.0 * * * * * * * *

25–34 ................................. 2,329 100.0 53.0 (4.19) 30.4 (4.11) 13.6 (2.20) 3.0 (1.27)

35–44 ................................. 3,809 100.0 51.9 (3.34) 32.0 (3.09) 13.1 (1.89) 3.0 (1.22)

Marital or cohabiting status

Currently married .......................... 2,685 100.0 60.7 (4.41) 29.2 (4.03) 8.2 (2.28) 1.9 (1.21)

Currently cohabiting......................... 1,304 100.0 61.3 (5.00) 25.0 (4.31) 9.6 (2.77) 4.1 (2.66)

Not currently married or cohabiting ............... 2,290 100.0 38.0 (3.47) 37.9 (3.51) 20.6 (3.58) 3.5 (1.28)

Education2

High school diploma or GED or less education ........ 4,278 100.0 54.8 (3.05) 30.3 (2.63) 12.3 (1.86) 2.6 (0.98)

Some college or more education................. 2,002 100.0 47.7 (4.86) 34.1 (4.57) 14.5 (3.35) 3.7 (1.62)

Hispanic origin and race

Hispanic or Latino .......................... 1,769 100.0 71.8 (3.72) 15.0 (2.76) 11.3 (3.13) 1.9 (0.70)

Not Hispanic or Latino

White, single race ........................ 2,702 100.0 43.3 (4.71) 38.0 (4.50) 14.5 (2.34) 4.2 (1.84)

Black or African American, single race ............ 1,336 100.0 45.9 (3.43) 40.7 (3.17) 11.3 (2.06) 2.1 (0.98)

* Figure does not meet standards of reliability or precision. 1

Includes fathers of other or multiple-race and origin groups, not shown separately. Fathers who live with children also may have children they do not live with currently; they are included in both
 

categories.
 2

Limited to fathers aged 22–44 at time of interview. GED is General Educational Development high school equivalency diploma.
 

NOTE: Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding.
 

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2006–2010.
 
Page 18 National Health Statistics Reports n Number 71 n December 20, 2013

Table 7. Number and percent distribution of fathers aged 15–44 with children aged 5–18 years, by how often they took their children to

or from activities in the last 4 weeks, according to their living arrangement: United States, 2006–2010

Number Once a week Several times

Characteristic (in thousands) Total Not at all or less a week Every day

Lives with one or more children Percent distribution (standard error)

Total1 ................. ................. 16,976 100.0 14.5 (1.16) 31.0 (1.59) 34.0 (1.64) 20.5 (1.14)

Age in years

15–24 ................................. 275 100.0 * * * * * * * *

25–34 ................................. 5,110 100.0 18.0 (1.78) 27.5 (2.09) 31.7 (2.34) 22.8 (2.30)

35–44 ................................. 11,591 100.0 12.7 (1.55) 32.8 (2.16) 35.1 (2.17) 19.3 (1.46)

Marital or cohabiting status

Currently married .......................... 12,992 100.0 12.8 (1.18) 32.7 (2.00) 33.3 (1.94) 21.2 (1.49)

Currently cohabiting......................... 2,540 100.0 21.3 (2.49) 25.9 (2.84) 37.6 (3.76) 15.3 (1.93)

Not currently married or cohabiting ............... 1,444 100.0 17.8 (4.04) 25.2 (4.39) 34.1 (4.70) 22.9 (3.41)

Education2

High school diploma or GED or less education ........ 8,491 100.0 20.8 (1.70) 30.1 (1.94) 30.5 (1.96) 18.6 (1.42)

Some college or more education................. 8,423 100.0 8.2 (1.41) 32.0 (2.21) 37.5 (2.52) 22.2 (1.90)

Hispanic origin and race

Hispanic or Latino .......................... 3,697 100.0 18.2 (1.85) 28.5 (2.22) 30.5 (1.89) 22.8 (2.44)

Not Hispanic or Latino

White, single race ........................ 9,785 100.0 13.1 (1.60) 30.6 (2.29) 36.8 (2.39) 19.5 (1.56)

Black or African American, single race ............ 1,797 100.0 14.8 (3.17) 28.8 (2.75) 29.4 (2.81) 27.1 (3.08)

Does not live with one or more of his children

Total1 ................................... 6,280 100.0 71.4 (2.11) 17.4 (1.72) 7.3 (1.15) 3.9 (1.07)

Age in years

15–24 ................................. 141 100.0 * * * * * * * *

25–34 ................................. 2,329 100.0 69.2 (3.59) 19.9 (3.07) 7.5 (1.58) 3.5 (1.46)

35–44 ................................. 3,809 100.0 72.7 (2.51) 15.6 (1.97) 7.4 (1.68) 4.3 (1.32)

Marital or cohabiting status

Currently married .......................... 2,685 100.0 76.7 (3.58) 14.1 (2.59) 6.6 (2.26) 2.5 (1.38)

Currently cohabiting......................... 1,304 100.0 76.2 (4.66) 13.8 (3.65) 4.3 (1.37) 5.7 (2.86)

Not currently married or cohabiting ............... 2,290 100.0 62.5 (3.76) 23.4 (2.83) 9.7 (1.92) 4.5 (1.42)

Education2

High school diploma or GED or less education ........ 4,278 100.0 75.1 (2.38) 16.2 (1.96) 5.8 (1.00) 2.9 (1.04)

Some college or more education................. 2,002 100.0 63.6 (4.30) 20.0 (3.03) 10.4 (2.99) 6.0 (2.09)

Hispanic origin and race

Hispanic or Latino .......................... 1,769 100.0 82.8 (2.86) 8.0 (1.93) 7.1 (1.67) 2.0 (0.82)

Not Hispanic or Latino

White, single race ........................ 2,702 100.0 70.0 (3.93) 17.9 (2.90) 7.2 (2.29) 5.0 (2.28)

Black or African American, single race ............ 1,336 100.0 58.2 (3.96) 27.8 (3.70) 8.9 (2.09) 5.1 (1.69)

* Figure does not meet standards of reliability or precision. 1

Includes fathers of other or multiple-race and origin groups, not shown separately. Fathers who live with children also may have children they do not live with currently; they are included in both
 

categories.
 2

Limited to fathers aged 22–44 at time of interview. GED is General Educational Development high school equivalency diploma.
 

NOTE: Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding.
 

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2006–2010.
 
National Health Statistics Reports n Number 71 n December 20, 2013 Page 19

Table 8. Number and percent distribution of fathers aged 15–44 with children aged 5–18 years, by how often they talked with their

children about things that happened during the day in the last 4 weeks, according to their living arrangement: United States, 2006–2010

Number Once a week Several times

Characteristic (in thousands) Total Not at all or less a week Every day

Lives with one or more children Percent distribution (standard error)

Total1 ................. ................. 16,980 100.0 1.1 (0.38) 6.3 (0.86) 27.2 (1.47) 65.3 (1.52)

Age in years

15–24 ................................. 275 100.0 * * * * * * * *

25–34 ................................. 5,115 100.0 1.6 (0.58) 6.8 (1.28) 23.9 (2.57) 67.7 (2.57)

35–44 ................................. 11,591 100.0 0.9 (0.49) 6.0 (0.97) 28.7 (1.77) 64.3 (1.87)

Marital or cohabiting status

Currently married .......................... 12,997 100.0 0.8 (0.43) 5.5 (1.03) 27.6 (1.88) 66.1 (1.86)

Currently cohabiting......................... 2,540 100.0 3.3 (1.21) 10.2 (2.38) 28.5 (2.91) 57.9 (3.31)

Not currently married or cohabiting ............... 1,444 100.0 * * 7.3 (2.68) 21.5 (3.38) 70.9 (4.19)

Education2

High school diploma or GED or less education ........ 8,496 100.0 1.0 (0.33) 8.2 (1.29) 26.7 (2.23) 64.1 (2.20)

Some college or more education................. 8,423 100.0 1.3 (0.68) 4.5 (1.07) 27.6 (2.01) 66.7 (2.24)

Hispanic origin and race

Hispanic or Latino .......................... 3,697 100.0 0.6 (0.28) 9.5 (2.35) 26.5 (2.65) 63.4 (2.98)

Not Hispanic or Latino

White, single race ........................ 9,790 100.0 0.8 (0.54) 3.9 (0.87) 28.3 (2.14) 67.0 (2.13)

Black or African American, single race ............ 1,797 100.0 3.2 (1.44) 8.6 (2.11) 20.8 (2.74) 67.4 (3.42)

Does not live with one or more of his children

Total1 ................. ................. 6,280 100.0 37.3 (2.76) 27.0 (2.77) 20.1 (1.95) 15.5 (2.04)

Age in years

15–24 ................................. 141 100.0 * * * * * * * *

25–34 ................................. 2,329 100.0 37.8 (4.12) 19.5 (2.81) 25.4 (3.57) 17.2 (3.11)

35–44 ................................. 3,809 100.0 36.5 (3.24) 31.1 (3.57) 17.4 (2.12) 15.0 (2.55)

Marital or cohabiting status

Currently married .......................... 2,685 100.0 46.7 (4.44) 29.0 (3.80) 16.3 (2.69) 8.0 (1.90)

Currently cohabiting......................... 1,304 100.0 43.0 (5.21) 18.7 (4.05) 15.8 (3.99) 22.6 (4.94)

Not currently married or cohabiting ............... 2,290 100.0 23.0 (2.72) 29.5 (3.48) 27.1 (3.04) 20.4 (3.72)

Education2

High school diploma or GED or less education ........ 4,278 100.0 40.7 (3.30) 25.7 (2.94) 20.5 (2.23) 13.1 (2.22)

Some college or more education................. 2,002 100.0 30.0 (4.10) 30.0 (5.44) 19.3 (3.19) 20.8 (4.02)

Hispanic origin and race

Hispanic or Latino .......................... 1,769 100.0 62.9 (4.47) 12.8 (2.74) 12.5 (3.14) 11.8 (2.58)

Not Hispanic or Latino

White, single race ........................ 2,702 100.0 29.4 (3.94) 36.4 (5.18) 18.1 (3.14) 16.1 (3.41)

Black or African American, single race ............ 1,336 100.0 20.7 (2.59) 27.4 (3.53) 34.1 (3.93) 17.8 (2.79)

* Figure does not meet standards of reliability or precision. 1

Includes fathers of other or multiple-race and origin groups, not shown separately. Fathers who live with children also may have children they do not live with currently; they are included in both
 

categories.
 2

Limited to fathers aged 22–44 at time of interview. GED is General Educational Development high school equivalency diploma.
 

NOTE: Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding.
 

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2006–2010.
 
Page 20 National Health Statistics Reports n Number 71 n December 20, 2013

Table 9. Number and percent distribution of fathers aged 15–44 with children aged 5–18 years, by how often they helped their children

with homework or checked that the children had completed their homework in the last 4 weeks, according to their living arrangement:

United States, 2006–2010

Number Once a week Several times

Characteristic (in thousands) Total Not at all or less a week Every day

Lives with one or more children Percent distribution (standard error)

Total1 ................. ................. 16,970 100.0 14.1 (1.24) 23.2 (1.40) 33.1 (1.56) 29.7 (1.53)

Age in years

15–24 ................................. 275 100.0 * * * * * * * *

25–34 ................................. 5,105 100.0 14.3 (2.06) 18.9 (2.01) 31.5 (2.41) 35.3 (2.52)

35–44 ................................. 11,591 100.0 14.0 (1.52) 25.1 (1.89) 34.0 (1.93) 27.0 (1.75)

Marital or cohabiting status

Currently married .......................... 12,997 100.0 12.9 (1.55) 23.4 (1.62) 34.7 (1.92) 29.1 (1.88)

Currently cohabiting......................... 2,529 100.0 20.0 (2.97) 22.2 (3.02) 25.8 (2.87) 32.1 (3.35)

Not currently married or cohabiting ............... 1,444 100.0 14.3 (3.40) 23.1 (4.08) 31.0 (4.82) 31.6 (4.54)

Education2

High school diploma or GED or less education ........ 8,485 100.0 15.3 (1.86) 21.9 (1.63) 30.8 (2.02) 32.0 (2.41)

Some college or more education................. 8,423 100.0 12.8 (1.76) 24.4 (2.25) 35.4 (2.33) 27.3 (2.00)

Hispanic origin and race

Hispanic or Latino .......................... 3,686 100.0 14.0 (2.31) 21.8 (2.27) 35.0 (2.94) 29.3 (2.88)

Not Hispanic or Latino

White, single race ........................ 9,790 100.0 14.7 (1.89) 23.4 (2.22) 33.8 (2.27) 28.1 (2.13)

Black or African American, single race ............ 1,797 100.0 10.8 (1.80) 20.3 (2.79) 28.4 (3.13) 40.6 (3.31)

Does not live with one or more of his children

Total1 ................. ................. 6,280 100.0 69.1 (2.37) 17.2 (1.95) 7.6 (1.15) 6.0 (1.28)

Age in years

15–24 ................................. 141 100.0 * * * * * * * *

25–34 ................................. 2,329 100.0 65.3 (4.04) 18.4 (3.08) 9.5 (2.39) 6.8 (2.06)

35–44 ................................. 3,809 100.0 71.2 (2.83) 16.4 (2.23) 6.6 (1.26) 5.8 (1.58)

Marital or cohabiting status

Currently married .......................... 2,685 100.0 78.1 (3.78) 12.9 (2.70) 6.1 (1.84) 2.9 (1.29)

Currently cohabiting......................... 1,304 100.0 70.6 (5.00) 11.6 (3.65) 7.9 (2.34) 9.9 (3.42)

Not currently married or cohabiting ............... 2,290 100.0 57.7 (3.82) 25.6 (3.27) 9.1 (2.01) 7.6 (2.37)

Education2

High school diploma or GED or less education ........ 4,278 100.0 71.1 (2.67) 16.4 (2.03) 6.8 (1.37) 5.6 (1.47)

Some college or more education................. 2,002 100.0 64.9 (4.47) 19.0 (3.71) 9.2 (2.37) 7.0 (2.38)

Hispanic origin and race

Hispanic or Latino .......................... 1,769 100.0 81.6 (2.99) 10.3 (1.96) 4.9 (1.90) 3.2 (1.73)

Not Hispanic or Latino

White, single race ........................ 2,702 100.0 70.0 (4.34) 19.9 (3.33) 5.1 (1.67) 5.0 (2.04)

Black or African American, single race ............ 1,336 100.0 55.7 (3.62) 18.2 (2.45) 16.4 (2.90) 9.7 (2.27)

* Figure does not meet standards of reliability or precision. 1

Includes fathers of other or multiple-race and origin groups, not shown separately. Fathers who live with children also may have children they do not live with currently; they are included in both
 

categories.
 2

Limited to fathers aged 22–44 at time of interview. GED is General Educational Development high school equivalency diploma.
 

NOTE: Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding.
 

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2006–2010.
 
National Health Statistics Reports n Number 71 n December 20, 2013 Page 21

Table 10. Number and percent distribution of fathers aged 15–44 with children aged 18 years and under, by how good a job they think

they do as a father, according to their living arrangement: United States, 2006–2010

Not a very

Number good job or A very

Characteristic (in thousands) Total a bad job An okay job A good job good job

Lives with one or more children Percent distribution (standard error)

Total1 ................. ................. 23,496 100.0 0.6 (0.18) 11.1 (0.82) 43.8 (1.45) 44.4 (1.49)

Age in years

15–24 ................................. 1,473 100.0 * * 12.0 (3.37) 35.4 (4.29) 52.3 (3.97)

25–34 ................................. 8,662 100.0 0.5 (0.17) 10.8 (1.11) 41.1 (2.28) 47.5 (2.21)

35–44 ................................. 13,361 100.0 0.7 (0.31) 11.2 (1.20) 46.5 (1.99) 41.6 (1.88)

Marital or cohabiting status

Currently married .......................... 17,596 100.0 0.5 (0.18) 10.7 (1.01) 45.2 (1.73) 43.7 (1.84)

Currently cohabiting......................... 4,007 100.0 * * 13.2 (1.84) 41.9 (3.37) 44.5 (3.27)

Not currently married or cohabiting ............... 1,893 100.0 2.3 (1.52) 10.5 (2.46) 35.6 (4.28) 51.6 (4.22)

Education2

High school diploma or GED or less education ........ 11,299 100.0 1.0 (0.32) 13.1 (1.45) 43.0 (2.06) 42.9 (2.03)

Some college or more education................. 11,696 100.0 0.3 (0.20) 9.4 (1.17) 44.8 (2.16) 45.5 (2.18)

Hispanic origin and race

Hispanic or Latino .......................... 5,146 100.0 1.1 (0.39) 14.5 (1.74) 41.0 (2.24) 43.4 (2.60)

Not Hispanic or Latino

White, single race ........................ 13,637 100.0 0.5 (0.26) 9.4 (1.16) 46.5 (1.94) 43.6 (1.90)

Black or African American, single race ............ 2,449 100.0 * * 12.6 (2.13) 32.6 (3.12) 54.3 (2.88)

Does not live with one or more of his children

Total1 ................. ................. 7,327 100.0 23.8 (2.00) 22.6 (1.92) 32.3 (1.97) 21.3 (1.98)

Age in years

15–24 ................................. 701 100.0 22.3 (5.25) 20.5 (4.67) 32.6 (5.52) 24.6 (5.51)

25–34 ................................. 2,703 100.0 21.5 (2.73) 22.2 (2.83) 35.8 (3.29) 20.6 (2.74)

35–44 ................................. 3,922 100.0 25.6 (2.72) 23.2 (2.55) 29.9 (3.20) 21.3 (2.69)

Marital or cohabiting status

Currently married .......................... 2,782 100.0 28.7 (3.81) 29.4 (3.77) 28.1 (3.23) 13.7 (2.45)

Currently cohabiting......................... 1,478 100.0 29.5 (4.51) 19.1 (3.66) 24.4 (4.31) 27.0 (4.21)

Not currently married or cohabiting ............... 3,067 100.0 16.5 (2.27) 18.1 (2.10) 40.0 (2.99) 25.5 (2.88)

Education2

High school diploma or GED or less education ........ 4,766 100.0 24.2 (2.26) 24.2 (2.16) 32.0 (2.40) 19.6 (2.18)

Some college or more education................. 2,212 100.0 23.0 (3.67) 20.8 (4.04) 33.2 (3.92) 23.0 (4.00)

Hispanic origin and race

Hispanic or Latino .......................... 2,110 100.0 29.3 (3.23) 18.2 (2.48) 29.8 (3.26) 22.8 (2.79)

Not Hispanic or Latino

White, single race ........................ 2,967 100.0 20.8 (3.24) 24.0 (3.51) 37.8 (4.02) 17.4 (2.98)

Black or African American, single race ............ 1,729 100.0 19.1 (2.64) 24.5 (3.14) 30.9 (2.93) 25.5 (4.15)

* Figure does not meet standards of reliability or precision. 1

Includes fathers of other or multiple-race and origin groups, not shown separately. Fathers who live with children also may have children they do not live with currently; they are included in both
 

categories.
 2

Limited to fathers aged 22–44 at time of interview. GED is General Educational Development high school equivalency diploma.
 

NOTE: Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding.
 

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2006–2010.
 
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National Health Statistics Reports n Number 71 n December 20, 2013

Acknowledgments

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) conducted the 2006–2010 National

Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) with the support and assistance of a number of other organizations and individuals. Interviewing and related

tasks were performed by the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research under a contract with NCHS. The 2006–2010 NSFG was

jointly planned and funded by the following programs and agencies of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:

• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

• Office of Population Affairs

• National Center for Health Statistics, CDC

• Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, CDC

• Division of Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention, CDC

• Division of Reproductive Health, CDC

• Children’s Bureau of the Administration for Children and Families

• Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation

NCHS gratefully acknowledges the contributions of these programs and agencies, and all others who assisted in designing and implementing

the 2006–2010 NSFG.

This report was prepared under the general direction of Delton Atkinson, Acting Director of NCHS’ Division of Vital Statistics (DVS); and

Stephanie J. Ventura, Chief of the Reproductive Statistics Branch of DVS. The authors are grateful for the valuable comments provided by

Gladys Martinez; Anjani Chandra; Stephanie Ventura; and Robert Anderson, DVS Co-Acting Associate Director for Science; and Jennifer

Madans, NCHS Associate Director for Science. They also thank Yashodhara Patel and Tramaine Bell for their helpful contributions to the

preparation of this report.

The report was edited and produced by NCHS Office of Information Services, Information Design and Publishing Staff: Danielle Woods edited

the report; typesetting was done by Annette F. Holman; and graphics were produced by Erik Richardson (contractor).

Suggested citation

Jones J, Mosher WD. Fathers’ involvement with

their children: United States, 2006–2010.

National health statistics reports; no 71.

Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health

Statistics. 2013.

Copyright information

All material appearing in this report is in the

public domain and may be reproduced or

copied without permission; citation as to

source, however, is appreciated.

National Center for Health Statistics

Charles J. Rothwell, M.S., Director
 

Jennifer H. Madans, Ph.D., Associate Director
 

for Science
 

Division of Vital Statistics

Delton Atkinson, M.P.H., M.P.H., P.M.P.,

Acting Director

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DHHS Publication No. 2014–1250 • CS244249