New research highlights the importance of fathers living with their children, showing it boosts father-child bonds into the teenage years. This study emphasizes that cohabitation is crucial for strong bonds, even if parents are not married.
Conducted by University of Michigan, University of Nevada-Las Vegas, and The Ohio State University, the study explores less-discussed father-child relationships to shed light on adolescent development. The research, part of a special Family Relations journal issue, employs advanced machine learning to deepen family studies.
“Fathers are often left out of research, but their perspectives matter,” said Kaitlin Ward, U-M researcher and study co-author. “It can be challenging to study fathers because there’s often less data available about them.”
Usually, mothers provide data in long-term studies, leading to a reliance on their reports. This study stands out by incorporating responses from thousands of diverse fathers in the U.S., fostering more inclusive fatherhood research.
The study reveals how fathers’ perspectives, captured through nearly 3,000 participants in the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study, influence child relationship quality. Findings show consistent father involvement, like talking and homework help, enhances adolescent closeness.
“When fathers regularly talk to their kids, help with homework, and show interest in their lives, it strengthens their relationships over time,” said Garrett Pace, study lead author and UNLV assistant professor. “These everyday interactions, especially in later childhood, are key to developing lasting closeness.”
The study’s co-authors include OSU assistant professor Joyce Lee and U-M researcher Olivia Chang.
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