If you watch almost any show on television that involves a father these days, it’s common to see a dad portrayed as an idiot when it comes to his children and family. In real life, many people tell men straight up: You don’t really parent, you babysit.
People spent more than $20.1 billion celebrating Dad for Father’s Day 2021. Why all the celebration if dads really don’t make that much of a difference in the lives of children?
In an article for the Institute for Family Studies, Dr. William Jeynes, Harvard graduate and professor at California State University, Long Beach highlights his recent meta-analysis of 34 studies regarding the unique role fathers play in childrearing. He found statistically significant effects between good fathering and a number of outcomes for both boys and girls.
Jeynes looked at whether fathers make a unique contribution in raising children compared to moms.
The meta-analysis included 37,300 subjects. In the study, Jeynes and his team defined the unique fatherhood contribution as paternal monitoring, involvement and childrearing activities that can be distinguished from activities undertaken by the mother, another guardian, relative or caregiver.
A clear theme emerged. While mothers were often the more nurturing parent, fathers appeared to be more involved in preparing children to deal with life. Fathers also seemed to more realistically assess their children’s future behavior problems. In some cases, fathers were better predictors of their child’s future cognitive performance than moms were.
Jeynes also found that father involvement or monitoring led to lower rates of delinquency and substance abuse among boys and girls. That’s in addition to students performing better in school and having better attitudes while in school.
The analysis showed mothers consistently demonstrated higher average levels of patience and nurturing than fathers. However, fathers tended to expect more of their children. And fathers placed greater emphasis on the preparatory aspect of childrearing, more so than mothers.
Results also suggest that it establishes a balance when the father’s unique role is combined with the mother’s distinct role.
According to Jeynes’ analysis, the importance of fathering is undeniable, and father involvement is greatly connected to family structure. He also asserts that father engagement is best in two-parent families, mainly because mothers typically lead single-parent families.
Jeynes also cites a 2015 article appearing in Education Next. The piece indicates that children living in two-parent families consistently receive more schooling than those in single-parent families, with the gap increasing over time.
Additionally, statistical analyses of nationwide data sets show that, on average, children raised by their biological parents in intact married families academically outperformed their counterparts who lived in cohabiting families and never-married, single-parent families.
Coming from a two-parent, intact family helps kids experience high levels of mother and father engagement. It doesn’t guarantee that mothers and fathers will be involved, though. Nevertheless, the changing makeup in family structure in recent decades has ultimately made father involvement more difficult.
Jeynes offers these thoughts based on his research outcomes: One of the most child-sensitive and family-sensitive actions one can take is to develop a greater appreciation of the value of fatherhood, and it is not only unwise to diminish the salience of fathers, but it’s also mindless to do so. Moreover, it is blatantly unkind to America’s children to detract from a vital parental role for their future fulfillment. To be truly pro-child is to be pro-father.
Don’t underestimate the role fathers play in raising children to be successful adults. If you want to model being pro-child and pro-father, here are some things you can do.
- If you’re a mom, encourage positive male role model involvement in your child’s life.
- Visit with your children as often as possible if you’re a non-residential dad,.Avoid making promises you can’t keep. You can also be very intentional about teaching them important life lessons.
- If you are an educator, encourage fathers to be active in the classroom.
- Be a positive male role model for the kids in your community.
- Faith-based institutions and programs canbring fathers together with their children. Encourage healthy and appropriate male role models to engage children in their sphere of influence.
- If you’re a business leader, encourage employee participation in community efforts with children. For example, promote mentoring with organizations like Big Brothers-Big Sisters, youth groups, Boys and Girls Club or Girls, Inc.
There’s no denying that a healthy father positively impacts his child’s life and that father absence dramatically affects a child’s ability to thrive throughout life.
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FAQs
Health and development
Father engagement and involvement has been associated with increased levels of social responsibility and capacity for empathy, social maturity, self control and self esteem.
Do we really need dads? ›
Fathers (and father figures) make a vital contribution to their children's development. What fathers have to offer their children is different from what mothers offer, but it is just as important to the child.
Does a father figure matter? ›
Children want to make their fathers proud, and an involved father promotes inner growth and strength. Studies have shown that when fathers are affectionate and supportive, it greatly affects a child's cognitive and social development. It also instills an overall sense of well-being and self confidence.
Do fathers make a difference? ›
Father involvement using authoritative parenting (loving and with clear boundaries and expectations) leads to better emotional, academic, social, and behavioral outcomes for children.
Why is a father so important? ›
Fathers play a major role in preparing children for life outside the family. Father's level of education and success on the job is linked with his child's intellec- tual abilities. Fathers' emotional support to others involved in direct care (i.e. Mom) influences the well-being of children.
Is the father more important than the mother? ›
Neither parent is more important, and both are vital. What matters most is that both parents show up and stay involved. Both parents are indispensable and hugely important to kids through all stages of life. The true extent depends a great deal on the relationships and the people involved.
Do we all have daddy issues? ›
Anyone can have daddy issues. Daddy issues are more prevalent than most people believe. That's because many people have childhood baggage that they bring into adulthood, including the unhealthy relationship they had with their parents.
Does every girl need a father? ›
Indeed, recent studies show that fathers appear to have a greater impact than mothers on how daughters, rather than sons, navigate some of the key events of their adolescence and early adult life; academic and career success, first romantic loves, mental health and life stress.
Which parent is more important to a son? ›
The father becomes increasingly more important to the son. Through his father's example, he learns to be a man. The mother should be "behind the scenes" and encourage this relationship. Healthy letting go is a balancing act that allows mother and son greater freedom and even a deeper connection, Meeker says.
How does a bad father affect you? ›
Research has shown that fathers' harsh parenting has a very strong effect on children's aggression, and that negative fathering is linked with low self-esteem. Many teenagers who get into trouble have (or have had) either negative or not enough fathering.
There are a number of different behaviors that adult women who were raised without fathers may exhibit. Some common examples include difficulty establishing and maintaining healthy relationships, struggles with self-esteem, and problems with authority figures.
What is a lack of a father figure? ›
When someone says they have no father figure in their life and they need one, it means that they lack a positive male role model in their life, typically a father or father figure, who can provide them with emotional support, guidance, and mentorship.
Is the fathers dna stronger? ›
Most people feel as though they look more like their biological mom or biological dad. They may even think they act more like one than the other. And while it is true that you get half of your genes from each parent, the genes from your father are more dominant, especially when it comes to your health.
Why do daughters prefer their fathers? ›
Daughters feel their emotional needs met by their fathers. They feel his approval when they're happy, and also are more likely to be attended to when they're sad. Of course, this adds fuel to the fire of the gender debate on sons inability to express emotions as adults being a result of how they are raised.
What happens when a girl grows up without a father? ›
The absence of a father's consistent presence can lead to feelings of abandonment, rejection, and low self-worth. Fatherless daughters may struggle with their identity, trust, and intimacy, as well as the absence of a positive male role model. However, it is important to remember that healing and growth are possible.
Why your father is the most important person in your life? ›
He is the best. He provides me what I want and need. For instance, money matters, education situations, and necessaries and luxuries, my needs and wants. He teaches me “the ways” to be a better person and to be a better citizen in life.
Why do fathers matter to girls? ›
Dads help their daughters feel self-respect and acceptance. They demonstrate that men and women can negotiate fairly, and teach them what to expect from a male-female relationship. They also show a girl how to relax and be affectionate around men without being sexual.
What is the point of the father? ›
Through almost every studied culture, fathers have assumed three primary roles: the protector, the provider, and the disciplinarian. Before we discuss each of these roles, it is important to note that in many two-parent families today, mothers are fulfilling these three roles as much as fathers.
Why are dads always the hero? ›
Our respondents told us that their fathers were heroes in their commitment to provide for their families, often at great sacrifice. Many fathers work at two or more jobs outside the home to ensure that their families have adequate food and shelter. Fathers also provide us with a sense of safety and protection.
