ABSTRACT
Virtually all fathers noted changes in frequencies of social activities. Some men felt that, overall, their social level was diminished or hindered by fathering, whereas others perceived enhanced social worlds. Men who focused on the losses that they experienced in terms of time and closeness with friends felt that fathering had negatively influenced their friendship patterns. Active engagement in fathering can bring significant shifts in the basic texture of social time. Bruce's reflections show that network size is not the only factor effected by active fathering. In discussing the relationships between fathering and friendships, it becomes apparent that many of the moderators of social lives are practical. In addition, some men related that their relationships at work had improved as they began to discuss coworkers' children and families. Roger's comments show how things that seemed inconsequential or irrelevant in the past now took on new levels of meaning and importance when considering the implications for his children.
