According to researchers, dads with toddler daughters are more responsive to their child's needs than fathers with toddler sons.
According to a new study, fathers given a boost of oxytocin expressed increased activity in brain areas associated with empathy and reward when viewing photos of their small children.
Unplanned fatherhood is linked to an increased risk of postnatal depression in both parents and behavioral problems in the offspring, researchers report.
Some traditional masculine stereotypes, such as being adventurous and competitive, were linked to being better fathers to infant children. This is especially true if men also adopt a nurturing role. However, one trait, hostile sexism, was not linked to improvements in parenting skills.
Men's caregiving work within a family may help to protect them against suicide, particularly in times of economic difficulties.
Men who have poor co-parenting relationships with their partners in the months following the birth of their child are more likely to be depressed by the time their children are toddlers.
Fathers who sleep more than other fathers experience lower overall well-being and closeness with their partners and children, while women who are able to sleep more report a greater sense of well-being. The study also found exercise impacts parental moods, reporting on days where men exercise more than usual, they are less likely to argue. By contrast, mothers who embark on more physical activity during the day experienced higher levels of emotional negativity and were more likely to have arguments. Researchers speculate this could be a result of paternal 'stress' of taking up the primary caregiving role for a time to allow his wife time to herself, causing a more argumentative state in males.
