I guess I always suspected this intuitively, but now there is some science to prove it. A recent New York Times article reported on a study from Princeton University and Smith College suggesting that "when couples scored high on positive relationship traits like willingness to compromise, expressing affection or love for their partner, encouraging or helping partners to do things that were important to them, and having an absence of insults and criticism, the father was significantly more likely to be engaged with his children."
The study also showed that there are many societal barriers fathers now have to overcome to being involved dads. The study also documented that while fathers-only programs are good at motivating fathers to be more involved, fatherhood programs involving mothers and fathers were even better at promoting father involvement.
So, dads, put this article where your partner can read it and make sure the two of you are both involved in the lives of your children!