Keeping Contact with Children: Assessing the Father/Child Post-separation Relationship from the Male Perspective

Description of figures

Figure 1: Frequency of contact by letter or telephone according to time spent with father

Time spent with father

• 0-6 days: weekly 23%, Monthly 23%, Rarely 54%
• 1 week-2 months: weekly 60%, Monthly 22%, Rarely 18%
• 2-5 months: weekly 78%, Monthly 12%, Rarely 10%
• 5-12 months: weekly 78%, Monthly 8%, Rarely 14%

[ Return to Figure 1 ]

Figure 2: Distribution of children according to type of union at birth and time spent with father

Type of union at birth

• Marriage: 0-6 days 19%, 1wk-2mth 20%, 2-5 mth 23%, 5-12 mth 38%
• Cohab./Marriage: 0-6 days 15%, 1wk-2mth 26%, 2-5 mth 29%, 5-12 mth 30%
• Cohabitation:  0-6 days 16%, 1wk-2mth 30%, 2-5 mth 30%, 5-12 mth 25%
• Out of union: 0-6 days 34%, 1wk-2mth 22%, 2-5 mth 21%, 5-12 mth 23%

[ Return to Figure 2 ]

Figure 3: Distribution of children according to age at separation and time spent with father

Age at separation

• 0-1 yr: 0-6 days 36%, 1wk-2mth 25%, 2-5 mth 20%, 5-12 mth 19%
• 2-5 yrs: 0-6 days 16%, 1wk-2mth 21%, 2-5 mth 31%, 5-12 mth 32%
• 6-11 yrs: 0-6 days 14%, 1wk-2mth 19%, 2-5 mth 26%, 5-12 mth 41%
• 12-17 yrs: 0-6 days 10%, 1wk-2mth 26%, 2-5 mth 13%, 5-12 mth 51%

[ Return to Figure 3 ]

Figure 4: Distribution of fathers according to yearly income and time spent with children

Yearly income

• Less than $20,000: 0-6 days 32%, 1wk-2mth 26%, 2-5 mth 15%, 5-12 mth 27%
• $20,000-$29,000: 0-6 days 7%, 1wk-2mth 37%, 2-5 mth 17%, 5-12 mth 39%
• $30,000-$49,000: 0-6 days 31%, 1wk-2mth 18%, 2-5 mth 30%, 5-12 mth 21%
• $50,000 & up: 0-6 days 4%, 1wk-2mth 17%, 2-5 mth 37%, 5-12 mth 42%
  

[ Return to Figure 4 ]

Figure 5: Effect of divorce on relationship with children according to time spent with them

Time spent with father

• 0-6 days: positive 8%, no effect 32%, Negative 60%
• 1 week-2 months: positive 22%, no effect 44%, Negative 34%
• 2-5 months: positive 33%, no effect 36%, Negative 31%
• 5-12 months: positive 51%, no effect 15%, Negative 34%

[ Return to Figure 5 ]

Figure 6: Proportion of fathers satisfied with children's living arrangements and time spent with them

Time spent with children

• 0-6 days: Living arrangements 70%, Time spent 30%
• 1 week-2 months: Living arrangements 70%, Time spent 58%
• 2-5 months: Living arrangements 84%, Time spent 71%
• 5-12 months: Living arrangements 88%, Time spent 88%

[ Return to Figure 6 ]

Figure 7: Proportion of mothers and fathers dissatisfied with their children's living arrangements according to time spent with the father

• 0-6 days: Fathers 21%, Mothers 3%
• 1 week-2 months: Fathers 27%, Mothers 2%
• 2-5 months: Fathers 16%, Mothers 4%
• 5-12 months: Fathers 12%, Mothers 11%

[ Return to Figure 7 ]