Social Fathers and Child Wellbeing
Type
Many young children born to unwed parents currently live with their biological mothers and their mothers' new partners (social fathers). This study uses data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (N = 1,088) to assess whether involvement by resident social fathers is as beneficial for child wellbeing as involvement by resident biological fathers, and whether thepresence of the child's nonresident biological father alters the relationship between resident social father engagement and child outcomes. Results indicate that involvement by resident social fathers is as beneficial for child wellbeing as involvement by resident biological fathers,and that frequent contact with the child's nonresident biological father does not diminish the positive association between residential social father involvement and child wellbeing.