The Composition Single father households may be comprised of a father and his children only, a father his children and a cohabiting partner, or a father, his children and extended family. The most common household pattern is a father and his own children. Thirty-four percent live in a multigenerational household. Unique Qualities Single father families are distinct from both married families and single mother families. However, single father families tend to be poorer and have lower labor force participation than married fathers.
Single fathers have fewer children than married fathers, but more than single mothers.
Single fathers are more likely than married fathers to live in households with relatives or other unrelated adults, but significantly less often than single mothers do. And single father families today are more likely to have young children present, yet very few receive child support payments from the mother. The largest concern expressed by single fathers is over childcare, as it is with most working parents. Childcare concerns are most stressful for single fathers with children between the ages of 5 and 11. Men feel that they are judged, as well as judge themselves, by their success at work and often have strong internal conflicts over managing work and caring for their children.