Fathering in diverse family structures: Separation, divorce, and stepfamilies

This chapter provides an overview of fathering in the context of family complexity and the diversity of family structures. The pathways and contexts that can shape fathering are considered and an overview of the essential body of research on parent-child relationships, family dynamics, and the antecedents and consequences of father involvement across family structures is provided. As many families include both biological fathers and stepfathers, this chapter is inclusive of both, differentiating on key trends related to both groups, where appropriate. After providing an overview of emerging trends, this chapter then explores fathering in the context of divorce and separation. Divorce and separation are discussed in the context of the larger systems and mechanisms that support or inhibit fathering during this process, with discussion centering around custody types and how determinations are made, existing conceptualizations and operationalizations of father involvement in this context, and known associations and the impact of father involvement. Then, fathering in the context of stepfamilies is discussed, with descriptions including the various pathways to stepfamily formation, the impacts of stepfather involvement, and the intersection of stepfathering with other parenting dyads, including mothers and biological fathers. Finally, gaps in the literature are discussed, and recommendations are made for research and policy that can be responsive to the ever-changing context in which fathers are embedded.