12.6.6: Fathers’ Contact with Children after Divorce

 12.6.6: Fathers’ Contact with Children after Divorce

 With most children living with their mothers after divorce, how often do fathers see their children? As you can see from Table 12.3, researchers have found four main patterns. The most common pattern is for fathers to see their children frequently after the divorce and to keep doing so. But as you can see, a similar number of fathers have little contact with their children both right after the divorce and in the following years. Table 12.3 Fathers’ Contact with their Children after Divorce 

Fathers’ Contact with their Children after Divorce

Frequent1	Minimal2	Decrease3	Increase4
38%	32%	23%	8%

1 Maintains contact once a week or more through the years.

2 Little contact after the divorce, maybe two to six times a year.

3 Has frequent contact after the divorce but decreases it through the years.

4 Has little contact after the divorce but increases it through the years. Sometimes called the “divorce activated” father.

Which fathers are more likely to see and talk often to their children? It is men who were married to the mothers of the children, especially those who are older, more educated, and have higher incomes. In contrast, men who were cohabiting with the mothers, as well as younger, less educated men with lower incomes, tend to have less contact with their children. If his former wife marries, the father tends to see his children less (Berger et al. 2012).