Paternal Multiple Partner Fertility and Environmental Chaos Among Unmarried Nonresident Fathers

ABSTRACT

This study examined the association between paternal multiple partner fertility (MPF; having children with two or more partners) and indicators of environmental chaos (partnership instability, residential instability, work stability, material hardship, and perceived social support) among unmarried, nonresident fathers. Survey data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (N = 873) were used to compare unmarried nonresident fathers who experienced MPF to those who had children with one partner. Results show that paternal MPF is associated with most indicators of environmental chaos (greater partnership instability, residential instability, work instability, material hardship) but not social support. Results suggest that fathers who experience MPF face challenges beyond those of other nonresident fathers. Policies and interventions should address aspects of instability and hardship that are unique to paternal MPF in order to encourage fathers’ positive contributions to children and families. Directions for future research are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Environmental chaos
• family complexity
• fathers
• fragile families
• multiple partner fertility
• unmarried parents

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development [Grant numbers 5R01HD036916, R25HD074544, and P2CHD058486].