Expectant fathers with higher levels of brain activation and oxytocin later endorsed a more "child-led" empathetic style of parenting once their child was born.
According to researchers, dads with toddler daughters are more responsive to their child's needs than fathers with toddler sons.
Stress experienced by fathers during early life was associated with more rapid development of white matter tracts in his child's brain.
A new study reports paternal anxiety is much higher than previously reported. Findings reveal anxiety in men during the perinatal period was 11%. Previous reports found anxiety in males during this period was under 4%.
Fathers who have more positive attitudes about their parenting abilities, and fatherhood in general, show differences in their brains to those who don't, 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 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.
