Fathers more involved in child’s care are healthier, research finds
The world’s first global fatherhood report has found that father’s who are more involved with their children’s care are more likely to be healthier, happier and overall have better well being than fathers who don’t.
The ‘State of the World’s Fathers’ report claims that when it comes to biology, fathers are just as hard-wired to care for their children as mothers are, and found that when they were more actively involved in their child’s care hat huge health benefits followed, such as a longer life, fewer health problems and greater productivity.
Despite these findings, the report found that no mothers and fathers in any country in the world equally shared unpaid domestic and care work for their children, with mothers spending two to ten times longer caring for their children.
The research suggests that these figures have resulted from a lack of supportive policies available for new fathers, in particular the matter of paternity leave, finding that if the option was available to them, 61 and 77 percent of fathers said they would work less if it meant they could have time with their children.
Nikki van der Gaag, author of the study, commented:
“When fathers take on their fair share of the unpaid care work, it can alter the nature of the relationships between men and women and children, as both fathers and mothers will have more time for their children, women are released from some of their ‘double burden,’ and fathers get to experience the joys, satisfactions, and stresses of caring for their children.”