Daddy on Duty: How Paternity Leave and Personality Relate to Fathers' Decisions

ABSTRACT Objective This study investigates whether fathers' paternity leave is associated with mothers' parental exhaustion and whether maternal parental exhaustion is subsequently associated with fathers' family‐ and work‐related intentions. Background Although paternity leave has become more common, prior research has reported inconsistent findings regarding its association with maternal well‐being. Drawing on Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, we propose that paternity leave may be associated with lower maternal parental exhaustion, which may, in turn, be associated with fathers' fertility and job turnover intentions. We further suggest that these associations depend on fathers' agreeableness. Method Data were collected from 357 dual‐earner couples in South Korea at two time points: during fathers' paternity leave and 6 months later. Mothers reported fathers' paternity leave status, agreeableness, and their own parental exhaustion at Wave 1. Fathers reported fertility and job turnover intentions at Wave 2. Results Maternal parental exhaustion mediated the association between fathers' paternity leave status and their two intentions. Furthermore, the negative association between paternity leave and maternal parental exhaustion was stronger when fathers were perceived as highly agreeable. Conclusion These findings highlight the relational nature of parenting and suggest that associations between paternity leave and family outcomes may depend on both structural opportunities and fathers' interpersonal characteristics, such as agreeableness. Implications Supporting fathers' opportunities for caregiving may benefit family well‐being and help families navigate important fertility and employment decisions.