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Is “being there” enough? Father’s instrumental support and union dissolution among disadvantaged families

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  • Nathan Robbins

    (Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany)

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this paper is to explore the relationship between financial provision, instrumental support and union dissolution among low-income men – particularly whether men can compensate for lower income and employment levels through increased presence and availability in the home. Background: In recent years, disadvantaged fathers have expressed a determination to not only provide financially for their families, but to also “be there” for them, giving support in other instrumental ways. Little is known about the relationship between these two types of provision and the relationship they have in stabilizing or dissolving unions. Method: Using five waves (nine years) of data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Survey (FFCWS, n = 3239), I conduct discrete-time event-history analysis to assess the probability of union dissolution among cohabiting and married couples based in relation to levels of income, division of paid labor, and instrumental support. Results: Instrumental support is highly protective against union dissolution. Odds of union dissolution were 62% lower for those with high levels of instrumental support, with a stronger association seen among married couples than cohabiting couples. Conclusion: Results suggest that no level of instrumental support can completely compensate for lower incomes and employment levels among disadvantaged fathers: both financial and instrumental support are important.

Suggested Citation

  • Nathan Robbins, 2024. "Is “being there” enough? Father’s instrumental support and union dissolution among disadvantaged families," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2024-030, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:wpaper:wp-2024-030
    DOI: 10.4054/MPIDR-WP-2024-030
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Marianne Bertrand & Emir Kamenica & Jessica Pan, 2015. "Gender Identity and Relative Income within Households," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 130(2), pages 571-614.
    2. John M. Nunley & Alan Seals, 2010. "The Effects of Household Income Volatility on Divorce," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 69(3), pages 983-1010, July.
    3. Laura Tach & Alicia Eads, 2015. "Trends in the Economic Consequences of Marital and Cohabitation Dissolution in the United States," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 52(2), pages 401-432, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    USA; dissolution of marriage; division of labor; end of union; father; household income;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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