FATHERS’ RELIGIOUS INVOLVEMENT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD BEHAVIOR

Previous research suggests that many men increase their religious involvement after the birth of a new child. This study extends this research by examining whether fathers maintain a higher rate of religious participation as children get older and how fathers’ religiosity may influence children’s behavior. Results suggest that many fathers maintain a higher level of religious participation during the early years of their child’s life. Although fathers’ religious involvement does not appear to directly influence children’s behavior, there is evidence that fathers’ religiosity moderates the influence of other family characteristics on children. Parental relationship quality and mothers’ religiosity are associated with fewer problem behaviors among children when fathers believe that religion is important to family life. Results also suggest that being raised by a non-religious father is associated with increased externalizing problem behavior among young children. Overall, this study suggests that religious communities may be a source of support that encourages fathers to be more active in their family life and promote positive development among children.religion, behavior, religious attendance, fathers, mothers, children

Religious Heterogamy and Relationship Stability: A Comparison of Married and Cohabiting Unions

Many studies have explored dynamics within religiously heterogamous marriages, but little is known about religiously heterogamous cohabiting unions. Using data from the Fragile Families Study, this study examines the influence of religious heterogamy on union stability among married and cohabiting couples. Results suggest that religious heterogamy is more common in cohabiting unions than marriages. Results also suggest that cohabiting unions are more likely to dissolve than marriages, and the risk of separation is higher for religiously heterogamous cohabiting unions (especially those in which one partner is religious and the other is not) than religiously heterogamous marriages. Finally, there is evidence showing that some religiously heterogamous cohabiting couples have a higher risk of relationship dissolution than religious heterogamous married couples due to lower relationship quality. Overall, this study extends the religion and family literature by showing that religious differences may lead to greater instability for cohabiting relationships than marriages.religion, behavior, religious attendance, fathers, mothers, children

Religion and Family Life

There has been increased interest among scholars in recent decades focused on the intersection of family and religion. Yet, there is still much that is not well-understood in this area. This aim of this special issue is to further explore the influence of religion on family life. In particular, this issue includes a collection of studies from leading scholars on religion and family life that focus on ways in which religion and spirituality may influence various aspects of family life including family processes, family structure, family formation, family dissolution, parenting, and family relationships.  The studies included incorporate both qualitative and quantitative analyses, incorporate a number of different religious traditions, focus on religiosity among both adults and youth, and explore a number of important issues such as depression, intimacy, sexual behavior, lying, divorce, and faith transmission

Paid Paternity Leave-taking in the United States

Surprisingly few studies have focused on paternity leave-taking in the United States. This study utilizes data from three national datasets to provide a comprehensive examination of the attitudes, practices, and predictors of paid paternity leave-taking in the US. Specifically, this study focuses on (a) describing attitudes toward fathers receiving a share of paid parental leave, (b) describing rates and lengths of paid paternity leave-taking, and (c) analyzing the extent to which economic capital, cultural capital, social capital, and father identities predict paternity leave-taking practices. The results indicate that most people support fathers receiving a share of paid parental leave in the US. Yet, rates of paid paternity leave-taking are relatively low, and the majority of fathers who take paid leave take only one week or less. Economic capital, cultural capital, social capital, and father identities that prioritize engaged fathering are positively associated with taking paid leave and taking longer periods of leave. Overall, the results emphasize that the current structure of US paternity leave policies seems to limit access to paid paternity leave and contribute to patterns of inequality because of more advantaged fathers having greater access and ability to take paid paternity leave than less advantaged fathers. Asombrosamente, pocos estudios se han enfocado en la solicitud de las licencias de paternidad, en caso de nacimiento o adopción, en los EE. UU. Este estudio utiliza información de tres conjuntos de datos estadísticos nacionales para proporcionar un análisis completo de las actitudes, prácticas y predictores de las licencias de paternidad remuneradas en los EE. UU. Específicamente, este estudio se centra en a) la descripción de las actitudes hacia los padres que reciben la licencia de paternidad remunerada, (b) la descripción de las diferentes tasas de pago y duraciones de la licencia de paternidad remunerada, y (c) el análisis del punto hasta donde el capital económico, el capital cultural, el capital social y las identidades paternas predicen prácticas de licencia de paternidad. Los resultados indican que la mayor parte de las personas encuestadas apoyan a los padres (los papas) que toman una licencia de paternidad remunerada en los EE. UU. Sin embargo, las tasas de pago de las licencias de paternidad remuneradas son relativamente bajas y la mayoría de los padres que toman la licencia de paternidad remunerada, la toman solo por una semana o menos. El capital económico, el capital cultural, el capital social, y las identidades paternas que dan prioridad a la participación paterna en el cuidado de los hijos y los quehaceres domésticos durante el periodo de la licencia de paternidad remunerada, están asociados positivamente con que los padres tomen permisos pagados y otros tipos de ausencias laborales más prolongadas. En general, los resultados enfatizan que la actual estructura de las normas y políticas referentes las ausencias laborales remuneradas en los EE. UU., parecen limitar el acceso a la licencia de paternidad remunerada y contribuyen a patrones de desigualdad debido a que los padres más favorecidos disponen de mayor acceso y más habilidad para tomar la licencia de paternidad remunerada que los padres menos favorecidos

If I [Take] Leave, Will You Stay? Paternity Leave and Relationship Stability

This article has been published in a revised form in Journal of Social Policy https://doi.org/10.1017/S0047279419000928. This version is free to view and download for private research and study only. Not for re-distribution or re-use. © copyright holder.Recent European studies suggest that fathers’ leave-taking may contribute to parental relationship stability. Paternity leave-taking may signal a commitment by fathers toward a greater investment in family life, which may reduce the burden on mothers and strengthen parental relationships. This study uses longitudinal data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) to analyze the association between paternity leave-taking and relationship stability in the United States. Results indicate that paternity leave-taking, and taking relatively short leaves (i.e. two weeks or less) in particular, is associated with greater relationship stability. These findings increase our understanding of the potential benefits of paternity leave, and can inform policy decisions that aim to increase family stability