Objectives: This article examines how the levels of nonresidential father involvement (over child ages 1 to 9) differ by race/ethnicity (comparing White, Black and Hispanic fathers), and then considers how individual and couple characteristics may 'account for' any observed differences.
Method: Data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (N = 2,447) and random effects models were used to examine how nonresidential father involvement (with respect to time, engagement, shared responsibility, and coparenting with mothers) is differentiated by race and ethnicity.
Results: Overall, Black nonresident fathers were significantly more likely to spend time and engage in activities with their children as compared to Hispanic fathers-but not White fathers. Black fathers also shared responsibilities more frequently and displayed more effective coparenting than Hispanic and White fathers.
Conclusions: Fathers' involvement with children is shown to differ across major race/ethnic groups, with implications for children as well as for future research and public policy.
Keywords: Father Involvement; Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study; nonresident fathers; race/ethnicity; unmarried parents.