The effect of mothers’ relative earnings on fathers’ responsibility for routine childcare tasks across the first three years: the moderating roles of emotional intimacy and parenting stress

The current study used data from the first phase of the NICHD-SECCYD study, which was collected from birth to age three. These data were collected from 1991 to 1995. The current study utilized a time-lagged, multilevel model to examine the association between increases in maternal relative earnings and subsequent increases in father responsibility for routine childcare tasks over time. Both maternal emotional intimacy and parenting stress were examined as potential moderating effects. The sample included married and cohabitating families. The central constructs for this study were measured at the 6, 15, 24, and 36-month time points, with fathers reporting on their own responsibility for routine childcare tasks and with mothers reporting on their own and their husband’s earnings, their perceptions of emotional intimacy, and their own parenting stress. Results indicated that maternal relative earnings were positively associated with subsequent father responsibility for routine childcare tasks. Although emotional intimacy did not moderate this association, the association between maternal relative earnings and father responsibility for routine childcare tasks was stronger as parenting stress decreased. These findings may have applied implications for intervention programs