Measuring Family Relationships in the Fragile Families Study

1. Measuring Family Relationships in the Fragile Families Study Marcy Carlson Columbia University July 16, 2004 Fragile Families Summer Data Workshop

2. Baseline M-F Relationship Status • History: • How long knew each other before got pregnant • Why did romantic rel. end (if broken up) • Current relationship status • Married (yes/no) • Cohabiting (yes/no) • Type (steady romantic; on & off; just friends; hardly talk; never talk) • Chances of marriage to baby’s father (none, a little, 50-50, pretty good, almost certain) • Chances of ever marrying someone (same as above)

3. Baseline M-F Relationship Quality • Supportiveness (often, sometimes, never) • Fair & willing to compromise • Shows affection/love • Insults/criticizes • Encourages/helps • Conflict (often, sometimes, never) • Money, spending time, sex, the pregnancy, drinking/drugs, being faithful • Companionship (did in last month) • Visited w/ friends, went out, ate out, helped solve problem

4. 1 Year M-F Relationship Status • History: • Relationship type when child born (married, rom., sep/div., just friends, not in any) • Cohabiting when child born (all/most, some, rarely, never) • Dates: marriage, cohab, sep/divorce, end of rel. • Why did relationship end • Current relationship status • Type (married, rom., sep/div., just friends, not in any) • Cohabiting (all/most, some, rarely, never) • Not all/most: # of nights, how often see/talk (18 cities)

5. 1 Year M-F Relationship Quality • Supportiveness (often, sometimes, never) • Fair & willing to compromise • Expresses affection/love • Insults/criticizes • Encourages/helps • Listens when need someone to talk to • Really understands your hurts & joys • Argue (always, often, sometimes, rarely, never) • Overall quality (poor, fair, good, very good, excellent) • Controlling behavior • Tries to keep from seeing friends/family • Tries to prevent from going to work/school • Withholds money

6. 1 Year M-F Relationship Quality • Questions asked about mother and biological father (regardless of residential status) • Questions asked about residential new partners

7. Baseline Father Involvement • Mom report: • Gave money • Helped in another way • Visited in hospital • Name on birth certificate • Baby will have surname • Dad says wants to be involved • Dad report: • Gave money • Helped in another way • Present at birth • Has held baby • Name on birth certificate • Baby will have surname • Wants to be involved

8. 1 Year Father-Child Activities(F about self; M about F) • Play games • Sing songs/nursery rhymes • Read stories • Tell stories • Play inside with toys • Take child to visit relatives • Hug or show physical affection • Put child to bed • Change diaper – only M about F • Feed or give bottle – only M about F

9. Father-Child Contact about One Year after Baby’s Birth (n=4,337) Nonmarital birth Marital birth 94.4

10. Father-Child Contact about One Year after Nonmarital Birth (n=3,260) Non-resident at birth Resident at birth

11. Father-Child Activities Past Month 1=never 2= < few times/wk 3=few times/wk 4=every day/nearly

12. Frequency of Spanking (Last Month)

13. The end…!