Influence of Childcare Participation Factors and Social Support on Participation of Father’s Childcare

Abstract

Objectives: This study examined the influence of certain parenting participation factors (i.e., family attributes, motivations, and environment) on paternal involvement in childcare, as well how social support influenced those parenting participation factors.
Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 750 fathers of children attending kindergarten and nursery school. The survey covered the period from January to February 2017 and analyzed (1) family attributes, such as father’s age, family structure, etc.; (2) childcare motivations such as perceptions of gender roles, acceptance of the father’s role, etc.; (3) childcare environment; (4) social support; and (5) weekday housekeeping and childcare hours.
Results: Multiple regression analysis revealed that such factors as “initiative consciousness” and the father’s annual net income had an influence on weekday housekeeping and childcare hours. Spousal social support also had an influence on initiative consciousness, and supervisors’ social support had an influence on the father’s annual net income.
Conclusion: The results suggested that a conventional role-sharing consciousness, where work plays a primary role, is related to the father’s involvement in childcare. It is possible that spouses and work supervisors alike may play a key role in paternal involvement in childcare.