Abstract
The present study examined how parenting time relates to fathers’ life satisfaction based on their varying amounts of leisure engagement. Guided by Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, the study explored whether leisure functions as a resource that supports fathers’ subjective well-being and whether it moderates the relationship between parenting time and life satisfaction. Participants were 32 custodial and noncustodial fathers of one child under the age of 18. Data were collected through an online survey measuring parenting time, leisure engagement, and life satisfaction. Results indicated that parenting time was not significantly associated with fathers’ life satisfaction. Leisure engagement was positively associated with life satisfaction at the bivariate level. The interaction between parenting time and leisure engagement was also not significant, indicating that leisure did not moderate the relationship between parenting time and life satisfaction. Income was positively associated with life satisfaction, suggesting that financial factors may play an important role in fathers’ well-being. Overall, the findings suggest that parenting time alone may not predict fathers’ life satisfaction and that leisure may function as a general resource rather than a compensatory one. These results highlight the importance of considering broader contextual factors when examining fathers’ subjective well-being.