Nonresident Father Visitation.

Previous NCFMR family profiles have examined fatherhood by discussing both the age that men become fathers and the total number of children that men have (FP-11-04, FP-11-10). This profile highlights the frequency of fathers' visitation with their nonresident children given the rise of complex family forms in the United States. Nationally representative data demonstrate the percentage of biological fathers (aged 15-45) reporting a biological nonresident child (18 or younger) has increased from approximately 22% in 1987/1988 to 27% in 2006/2010. For the purposes of this profile, Infrequent Visitation refers to seeing nonresident children "several times last year" or less and characterizes approximately two-fifths of nonresident fathers' reports of visitation. Moderate Visitation refers to seeing nonresident children either "1-3 times a month" or "approximately once a week" and describes nearly one-third of nonresident fathers' reports of visitation. Frequent Visitation refers to seeing nonresident children "several times a week" at least and accounts for one-quarter of nonresident fathers' reports of visitation. (Author abstract modified)