4 Research-Based Facts on the Importance of Fathers

Did you know? There are research-based, psychological, and biological reasons why kids do better with a paternal presence in their life. Children with involved fathers are less likely to drop out of school, suffer from depression, and break the law. Guided by a close relationship with their father, children grow up to pursue healthy relationships, hold down steady jobs, and avoid risky behavior.

Fathers 4 Progress Inc., a fatherhood training center in Bronx, New York, lists 4 researched-based facts on the effects of having a paternal presence:

1. Adolescents with more involved fathers tend to exhibit lower levels of behavior problems.
   Research suggests that adolescents with a higher quality of father involvement exhibit lower levels of internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. Adolescents with fathers who are understanding, caring, and trustful may develop better emotional regulation skills which can decrease the risk of developing behavioral problems.
2. Father involvement is associated with positive child health outcomes.
   Studies show that father involvement is associated with positive developmental, cognitive, and socio-behavioral child outcomes. This includes improved breastfeeding rates, improved weight gain in preterm infants, higher language skills, and higher academic achievement.
3. Adolescents with positive relationships with their fathers are less likely to engage in delinquent behavior.
   Studies show that adolescent boys tend to engage in more delinquent behavior if there is no father figure in their lives.
4. Father absence can negatively affect a child’s social-emotional development.
   The role that fathers play in their child’s development is crucial. The absence of a father figure can hinder a child’s development from early infancy throughout childhood and into adulthood. It can negatively impact their social-emotional development. Father absence can increase risky behavior, such as early childbearing or smoking. The physiological harm of father absence experienced during childhood can persist throughout a person’s life.

These are just some of the many benefits of having a paternal figure in your life. If you want your child to grow up healthy – physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally, come join our fatherhood program in New York. Let us help you become a better father. We are here to help you become the father that you’ve always wanted to be.