Nonresident Fathers and Children

Abstract

Children often lose contact with their biological fathers after their parents separate and form new families. Using detailed longitudinal data on family transitions made by mothers and fathers after separation, the authors examine whether and how changes in the family trajectories of both biological parents affect frequency of contact that nonresident fathers maintain with their children. Approximately half of fathers experienced a change in contact frequency. The analysis shows that fathers' new union formation reduces visits to nonresident children, but only when it closely follows separation, before fathers and children have established the structure of their postseparation relationship. Unlike other studies, however, the authors do not find that the birth of a child in the father's new union significantly reduces his level of contact with nonresident children. Findings suggest that nonresident fathers reduce frequency of visits when their children acquire a stepfather.