High rates of nonmarital fertility and divorce mean that many fathers do not live with some or all of their children. Using the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth, this research compares socioeconomic and family characteristics among men with only coresidential children ( n = 762), with both coresidential and nonresidential children ( n = 107), and with only nonresidential children ( n = 367) and examines the factors that influence men's visitation with nonresidential children. Men with only nonresidential children are more disadvantaged than men with both coresidential and nonresidential children, who in turn are more disadvantaged than men with only coresidential children. Although competing obligations to coresidential children affect visitation with nonresidential children, other factors are also important. In particular, the number of both coresidential sons and daughters negatively affects visitation. Men visit nonresidential children more frequently when they were married or cohabiting at birth, and visitation is negatively related to the age of nonresidential children.
Marriage Markets and Nonmarital Fertility in the United States
