The National Center for Fathering is a non-profit research and education organization whose mission is to improve the lives of children and reverse the trends of fatherlessness by inspiring and equipping fathers, grandfathers and father figures to be actively engaged in the life of every child. Here is a description of NCF’s research background.

The research information contained here is provided as an extension of our mission. We believe that beyond one’s personal experience, these statistics and research findings will provide convincing evidence that restoring responsible fatherhood is a critical priority for our children, families, communities and nation.

The information is organized in four major sections:

1. Recent Research
   1. Fathering During the Pandemic (2021) – Get the Report – Download the free ebook
2. Facts About Fathers and Fathering
   1. The Extent of Fatherlessness
   2. Contributors to Fatherlessness
   3. The Consequences of Fatherlessness
   4. The Effects of Fatherfullness
   5. Trends in Fathering
3. NCF’s National Surveys on Fathers and Fathering
   1. 2009 NCF Poll: “Fathering in America” – PDF
   2. 2009 Fathers’ Involvement in Children’s Learning – PDF
   3. 1999 Fathers’ Involvement in Their Children’s Learning – PDF
   4. 1999 NCF Poll: “Fathering in America” – PDF
   5. 1996 NCF-Gallup Poll: Fathers in America – PDF
4. Additional Research on Fathers and Fathering
   1. 8 Science-Backed Reasons Why Dads Deserve More Credit (Reported by Rebecca Adams at huffingtonpost.com)
   2. Fathers’ Involvement With Their Children: United States, 2006 – 2010 (December 2013, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) – PDF
   3. How fathers and father figures can shape child health and wellbeing (September 2013, Australian Institute of Family Studies)
   4. The New American Father – Pew Research (June 2013)
   5. Modern Parenthood: Roles of Moms and Dads Converge as They Balance Work and Family – Pew Research (March, 2013)
   6. Fathers & Fathering in Contemporary Contexts (May 2012, Research Conference, National Center for Family & Marriage Research, Bowling Green University)
   7. A Tale of Two Fathers: More Are Active, but More Are Absent – Pew Research (June, 2011)
   8. The Decline of Marriage And Rise of New Families – Pew Research (November, 2010)
   9. Fatherhood and Men’s Lives at Middle Age (January 2010, Journal of Family Issues (abstract). Also referenced here (“Fathering children leads men to behave in more altruistic ways.”)
   10. As Marriage and Parenthood Drift Apart, Public Is Concerned about Social Impact – Pew Research (July 2007)
   11. Fatherhood as a Personality Development Factor in Men (2007)
   12. Making Fathers Count – Assessing the Progress of Responsible Fatherhood Efforts – available through the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
   13. Fatherhood: The Changing Family Photo (April, 2002) – Gallup
   14. Parent/Teen Relations: Where’s the Grief? (March, 2002) – Gallup
   15. Children at Risk: State Trends 1990-2000
   16. How Do Social, Economic and Cultural Factors Influence Fathers’ Involvement with their Children? (May 1999) – PDF
   17. Father’s Involvements in their Children’s Schools, US Department of Education, 1997

To submit information for posting, e-mail dads@fathers.com.

Note: We have been careful to cite the sources of all information and research posted here. Please feel free to copy or quote from any of it. We only ask that you cite the source in every instance. Thank you!