By Scott Bragg, LPC, CAADC, CCTP
Becoming a father is a great privilege and responsibility. It comes with its ups and downs. However, it has been a beautiful gift for me. The importance of a dad’s level of involvement on a child’s life is often overlooked. In fact, recent studies state that a dad’s well-being impacts their kids’ childhood development.
The list below highlights some of the many positive effects that increased involvement or presence (more emotional warmth and engagement) from a dad can impact a child’s life.
Children Become More In Control of Their Emotions
As dads, we can role model ways to manage and express emotions. We are another avenue for learning healthy ways to cope with feelings. No one is perfect at managing their emotions and it is definitely okay to not always be on your “A game”. Our imperfection highlights the importance of getting help when needed, whether it be support from friends and family, a community member, or a therapist.
Better Relationships with Peers.
More presence from a dad leads to a more secure bond with the child. This is true especially when the child is an infant. The presence leads to a secure attachment. In other words, the child has healthier and more stable relationships. Kids of these dads are better skilled at communication, compromising, and becoming closer with others.
Mothers/Partners are Impacted in a Positive Way
It has been found that there is a relationship between the father’s mental health and level of involvement in parenting with their partner’s mental health. The mother’s mental health is positively affected when the dad is doing well emotionally. This not only reduces the obvious load of stress for the mother, but can help her manage emotions in parenting as well. Postpartum mental health issues are reduced when this occurs.
Fatherhood involvement, of course, varies due to unique family structures, culture, economic status, etc. It is likely not controversial to state that expectations and roles of fathers have changed over the past thirty years. Either way, the involvement and presence of a father is vital for the family overall. The dad’s involvement (or a second parenting partner’s) can positively affect all parties in the family. Again, it shows the need for dad’s to address mental health issues.
Scott Bragg is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Addictions Counselor in Pennsylvania. This blog is intended for educational purposes and should not serve as a substitute for seeking mental health treatment.
Citations/Links:
1. Fisher, S.D., Cobo, J., Figueiredo, B. et al. Expanding the international conversation with fathers’ mental health: toward an era of inclusion in perinatal research and practice. Arch Womens Ment Health 24, 841–848 (2021).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-021-01171-y
2. Singley (2014). Men’s Peripartum Mental Health. Yes, It Actually Exists. The California Psychologist, 47 (4), 20-22.
https://www.menexcel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Mens-peripartum-mental-health-Yes-it-actually-exists..pdf