Research on fathering in America.
An overwhelming majority of Americans agree that fathers play an important and irreplaceable role in the lives of children:
- 89% agree that it is important for children to live in a home with both their mother and father.
- 92% agree that fathers make a unique contribution to their children’s lives.
Americans recognize that significant progress has been made on a number of fronts related to fathers and fathering:
- Most fathers know what’s going on in their children’s lives +6 percentage points
- Most fathers feel comfortable discussing spiritual issues with their children
- Employers recognize the strain fathers face between the demands of family and the demands of work
- Dads are eating one or more meals with their family each day
Americans have a high level of satisfaction with fathers and fathering:
- Almost eight out of ten give most fathers credit for doing a good job of providing for and protecting their families (77%) and for caring enough about their children’s feelings (78%).
- 89% of fathers are satisfied with themselves as fathers.
- 94% of fathers are satisfied with their ability to talk to their children.
- 95% of fathers are satisfied with their relationship with their children.
Despite all the positive attitudes expressed by respondents, the state of Fathering in America is decidedly mixed:
- 7 out of 10 people surveyed agree that the physical absence of fathers from the home is the most significant family or social problem facing America.
- Less than two in three (64%) believe that most fathers have a good picture of what it takes to be a good father.
- Only half give most fathers credit for knowing what is going on in their children’s lives.
- Nearly all respondents (97%) believe that fathers need to be more involved in their children’s education.
(Source: Fathering in America, 2009, National Center for Fathering, www.fathers.com)
