Unmarried parenthood impacts family dynamics and child development, with parental relationship quality crucial to the well-being of parents and children. This study examines how the relational dynamics of unmarried parents influence parent–child relationships over 3 years. We used Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study data to examine the associations between parental relationship quality and father–child closeness at age 3. High parental relationship quality was associated with increased father involvement with their children, while troubled relationships were linked to less father–child involvement. Moreover, material hardship was not a significant factor in father involvement based on the study findings. The findings showed the importance of supportive parental relationships for secure father–child bonds and suggested targeted interventions to enhance child development.
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