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Traditionally, mothers provided emotional support and care, while fathers provided financial support with limited involvement in parenting. However, over the past few decades, sociocultural and economic shifts have led to significant changes in both women's and men's roles in the family. Fathers have become increasingly engaged in direct care of their children, with the majority of resident fathers spending time in caregiving activities, such as diapering, reading, and playing, at least once a week. In 2016, 17% of all parents who stayed at home were fathers, representing an increase from 4% in 1989. The time fathers spend with children under 6 is divided among various activities, with most time spent in playing and physical care. These statistics suggest that the traditional emotional versus instrumental dichotomy of roles assigned to fathers and mothers is no longer accurate. Research on fathers' influence on children has been atheoretical or driven by content-specific micro-theories, but commonly used theoretical frameworks include the bioecological model and family systems theories. Methodological approaches have included quantitative and qualitative methodologies, with challenges including identification of fathers, recruitment and retention of father participants, and measurement of father involvement.