According to research, hands-on fathers have happier and more well-adjusted children.
Research has found that the closer a child is to their father, the less likely they are to have behavioural problems in the future, Independent reports.
After examining data from parents of 10,440 children, the researchers found that fathers who were emotionally involved with their child and who felt confident in their role as a parent had kids who were 28% less likely to suffer behavioural problems.
The researchers concluded that the psychological and emotional aspects of fatherhood are more powerful in influencing child behavior—not the amount of time fathers help in childcare or domestic tasks.
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Why are hands-on fathers so important?
“Positive parenting by fathers may contribute to good outcomes in children in a number of way,” the researchers said, before enumerating the possible reasons why hands-on fathers are so instrumental:
- By being a source of support to mothers, hands-on fathers allow their partners to provide better care to their children.
- Hands-on fathers can alleviate the impact of factors like maternal depression.
- Hands-on fathers lead to a happier and more cohesive family.
On the next page: how fathers can nurture their relationships with their kids.
