Trajectories of Couple Relationship Quality after Childbirth: Does Marriage Matter?

Marital quality typically declines following the birth of a (first) child, as parenthood brings new identities and responsibilities for mothers and fathers. Yet, it is unclear whether nonmarital relationship quality follows a similar trajectory. This paper uses data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (N=2,500) with latent growth curve and difference-in-difference models to examine relationship quality for co-resident couples over five years after a child’s birth. Findings suggest that marriage at the time of the birth is protective for couple relationship quality, net of various individual characteristics associated with marriage. Among cohabiting couples at birth, those who subsequently marry have better relationship quality compared to all who do not marry, though not compared to stably cohabiting couples.

SHARED PARENTING IN FRAGILE FAMILIES

This paper uses data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study to examine the frequency of parent-child interaction in several areas across a range of family types. Overall, we find that few individual characteristics of mothers or fathers are consistently associated with how often parents engage in activities with their one-year-old children. The nature of parents’ relationship, however, does appear to be important for parenting. Non-resident fathers exhibit significantly lower levels of interaction with their children in activities such as care giving, playing and cognitive stimulation, than resident fathers. In addition, the father’s supportiveness toward the mother affects several mother-child and father-child activities. Future research with a larger sample and a greater number of comparable parenting items will be useful for improving our understanding of how mother-father relationships, mothers’ parenting, and fathers’ parenting are linked to each other and, ultimately, to children’s wellbeing.

Coparenting in Fragile Families

Nonmarital childbearing has increased dramatically in the U.S. since the early 1960s, rising from 6% of all births in 1960 to fully 40% in 2007 (Hamilton, Martin, & Ventura, 2009). Whereas similar trends have occurred in many developed nations, the U.S. stands out in the extent to which such births are associated with socioeconomic disadvantage and relationship instability. This has given rise to a new term ‘fragile families,’ which we define as unmarried couples who have a child together. The increase in fragile families reflects changes not only in the initial context of births but also in the fundamental nature and patterns of childrearing.Fragile families, childbearing, nonmarital childbearing

Fathers in Fragile Families

Nonmarital childbearing has increased dramatically in the U.S. since the early 1960s, rising from 6% of all births in 1960 to fully 40% in 2007 (Hamilton, Martin, & Ventura, 2009; Ventura & Bachrach, 2000). Whereas similar trends have occurred in many developed nations, the U.S. stands out in the extent to which such births are associated with socioeconomic disadvantage and relationship instability, giving rise to a new term ‘fragile families.’ The increase in fragile families reflects changes not only in the context of births but also in the fundamental nature and patterns of childrearing, particularly with respect to fathers’ roles and involvement with children.Fragile families, childbearing, nonmarital childbearing, fartherhood, fathers

Swine diet manipulation to minimize environmental impacts

PUBLISHED BY MU EXTENSION, UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIAAG R I C U LT U R A LMU GuideSwine nutritionThe trend toward intensive swine production has raised concerns about concentrated production of manure. These concerns are challenging pork producers to adopt not only improved manure management methods but also methods for reducing the amount of nutrients fed in excess of the pigs' dietary requirements. Swine researchers are working to develop answers to problems of environmental contamination. Research shows that attention to the nutrient content of swine diets can help to maintain a healthy environment and reduce feeding costs.Heather Wilt and Marcia Carlson (Department of Animal Sciences)Reviewed November 2018 -- websit

Feeding organic and inorganic sources of trace minerals for swine production

PUBLISHED BY MU EXTENSION, UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIAAGRICULTURALMU GuideSwine nutritionA balanced diet of required nutrients is vital in the operation of a profitable swine production. A nutritionally complete diet provides all the necessary nutrients required by the growing pig or reproducing female. Because feed is the most costly element in swine production, there is a distinct advantage in using the least expensive feed ingredients available while ensuring all nutritional requirements are met. However, producers must exercise caution when feeding some lower cost ingredients that may be of lesser quality, to avoid the increased excretion of nutrients and subsequent impact on the environment. Studying the effects of different types of mineral supplementation on animal growth can aid swine producers in developing a feed program that yields desirable gains while lessening detrimental effects associated with excretion of excess nutrients.Heather Hellman and Marcia Carlson (Department of Animal Sciences)Reviewed November 2018 -- websit

DOES MOTHER KNOW BEST?: A COMPARISON OF BIOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL FATHERS AFTER A NONMARITAL BIRTH

High rates of nonmarital childbearing combined with high rates of instability and repartnering in nonmarital relationships portend that a large proportion of children born to unmarried mothers can expect to spend time with a ‘social father.’ This paper uses data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study to examine the prevalence and characteristics of social fathers during the first three years following a nonmarital birth. The results indicate that 22% of unmarried mothers have formed new partnerships by the time their child is age three, and 12% are living with their new partners. The results also indicate that re-partnering represents a gain for most mothers and children in terms of fathers’ human capital and pro-social behavior. Our findings are consistent with the idea that unmarried mothers continue to search for ‘good fathers’ after their children are born and that many of these women are successful in their search.

Swine diet manipulation to minimize environmental impacts (2003)

MU Extension website indicates that this publication was reviewed November 2018. (2020 May 21)The trend toward intensive swine production has raised concerns about concentrated production of manure. These concerns are challenging pork producers to adopt not only improved manure management methods but also methods for reducing the amount of nutrients fed in excess of the pigs' dietary requirements

Parenting Practices of Resident Fathers: The Role of Marital and Biological Ties

This paper uses data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study to examine differences in the parenting behaviors of resident biological and social fathers on measures of engagement, shared responsibility, and cooperation in parenting. Regression, difference-in-difference, and decomposition techniques are used. Results suggest that biological and social fathers differ significantly on most parenting measures (and in some unexpected ways), but that a considerable portion of these differences can be explained by differences in the background characteristics of the individuals and families in each group. Additionally, the analyses reveal a stronger link between marriage and higher-quality parenting behaviors for social-father families than for biological-father families.