The Impact of Father’s Health on Reproductive and Infant Health and Development

Abstract

The importance of father’s health and health behaviors during the perinatal period is an under-appreciated, but critical, topic for enhancing reproductive and infant health and development, and ultimately men’s own lifetime health. This chapter brings together the existing scattered reproductive fatherhood health literature and articulates a new conceptual framework that identifies eight direct and indirect pathways of potential paternal impact. Three pathways reflect pre-conception to conception influences; paternal planned and wanted pregnancies (family planning); paternal biologic and genetic contributions; and paternal epigenetic contributions. Three pathways reflect father-mother perinatal interactions: paternal reproductive health practices that may alter their partner’s health behaviors and self-care practices; paternal reproductive biologic and social health that may alter their partner’s reproductive health biology; and paternal support for maternal delivery and post-partum care. And two pathways reflect systemic influences: paternal mental health influences; and paternal contributions to the family’s social determinants of health. This chapter pushes back the time frame for the father’s developmental importance for his child into the antenatal period, if not earlier; it encourages more gender equitable parental roles and opportunities; and it provides a stronger scientific knowledge base to support new fatherhood programs, policies and research that encourages father’s more active, healthier and earlier reproductive health involvement.

The effects of paid family leave—does it help fathers’ health, too?

“…Lastly, it is well documented that the well-being of a newborn depends on the health of the mother (Population Reference Bureau 2002). Recent literature has also emphasized that the father's health during the perinatal period is critical for infant health and development (Kotelchuck 2022). Hence, the poor health of new mothers and fathers could adversely affect a newborn's developing body and brain, potentially leading to long-lasting consequences for their future mental, physical, cognitive, and social outcomes (Clinton et al 2016;Cook et al 2019).…”

Review article: Parenting leaves, workplace characteristics, male health, and the pandemic: Currents in policy-related fatherhood research in higher income countries

“…One current of research documents that father involvement in the pregnancy and birthing period is associated with many positive outcomes (Kotelchuck 2022a;2022b). Indeed, a body of research finds a correlation between father involvement during pregnancy and a range of positive outcomes such as mothers receiving prenatal care, smoking reduction in pregnancy, reduced infant morbidities and continued paternal involvement (see Yogman & Eppel, 2022).…”

Correlates of Sexual Behavior Across Fatherhood Status: Finding From the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), 2016–2018

“…This has been attributed to the father role, prompting a shift from individualism toward increased responsibility and care for others (Garfield et al, 2010; White et al, 2012). While most of the literature on fatherhood and health centers health outcomes for children, recent studies highlight the influence of fatherhood on men’s health (Caldwell et al, 2019; Kotelchuck, 2022b; Torche & Rauf, 2021). Fathers who are actively involved in their children’s lives tend to have better mental health, higher levels of self-esteem, and greater life satisfaction compared with those who are not involved (Astone & Peters, 2014).…”