Coparenting and Father Involvement Predict Subsequent Same-Partner and Multipartner Fertility

Letitia Kotila, Ohio State University

Increased non-marital childbearing particularly within disadvantaged populations has ushered in new family forms, particularly those with multipartnered fertility. Due to the disadvantages these families face, this study examined coparenting and father involvement as possible predictors of same, and multipartnered fertility, in order to establish connections and provide direction for programs seeking to decrease the incidence multipartnered fertility. Using the Fragile Families Childhood and Well-being Study (N=2363), we studied the relationship between coparenting and father involvement in the domains of engagement, responsibility, and childcare on the subsequent fertility of low-income, unmarried mothers; specifically, a new birth with the same father or new father. Results indicate that, analyzed independently, coparenting and each domain of father involvement significantly predict each type of fertility. Together, responsibility and childcare significantly predict each type of fertility. Mothers who were Black were more likely to have children with a new father, consistent with previous research.