Fathers’ involvement in childcare during parental leave: assessments and expansion prospects

Modern social relationships imply strengthening of the values of equality, solidarity and justice in the division of responsibilities in the family sphere between women and men. However, it is women who bear the brunt of the housework in Russian families. Under such conditions, the need to develop a model of involved fatherhood that has a favorable effect on children, women, and fathers themselves becomes more relevant. In this regard, the purpose of our research is to examine fathers’ involvement in family responsibilities during parental leave. To achieve this goal, in 2022 we conducted a questionnaire survey of mothers and fathers with children under 3 years old. We interviewed 1,000 respondents living in 85 entities of the RF. To organize the research, we used quota sampling, with quotas by Russian federal districts in proportion to population size. We have revealed that with the expected higher level of parental load of mothers during the period of parental leave compared to the level of fathers’ load, there are a number of socio-demographic factors influencing this differentiation. They include: 1) family income level (higher income is associated with specific types of functions - educational and communicative); 2) family status of fathers (having a registered marriage increases paternal involvement during parental leave). Fathers’ age is not related to their involvement level. Reasons for fathers’ lower load are both objective and subjective in nature. We see continuation of work in applying qualitative research methods for deeper understanding of the causes of the current situation.