Social Fathers and Child Well-Being

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 Well-Being Study (N = 1,350) to assess whether involvement by resident social fathers is as beneficial for child well-being as involvement by resident biological fathers and whether the involvement 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 well-being 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 well-being.