X
theAsianparent Philippines Logo
theAsianparent Philippines Logo
EnglishFilipino
  • Building a BakuNation
  • Becoming a Parent
    • Trying to Conceive
    • Pregnancy
    • Delivery
    • Losing a Baby
    • Project Sidekicks
  • Ages & Stages
    • Baby
    • Toddler Years
    • Preschool Age
    • Kids
    • Preteen & Teen
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • News
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Health & Wellness
    • Diseases & Injuries
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Preschool
    • K-12
    • Special Education Needs
  • Lifestyle Section
    • Celebrities
    • Contests & Promotions
    • Home
    • Travel and Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Fitness
    • Wellness
    • Money
  • Become a VIP
  • COVID-19
  • Press Room
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping

How fatherhood changes a man, according to science

4 min read
How fatherhood changes a man, according to scienceHow fatherhood changes a man, according to science

Here are the changes that occur in a man’s body and behavior when he becomes a dad according to various studies

We all have a picture in mind whenever we hear the word “father”. But what does being a dad mean physiologically?

According to Oregon State University, men who became fathers in their late 20s to early 30s showed a decreased predisposition to crime or alcohol use, as opposed to men who became dads in their teens or early 20s.

Professor David Kerr, who spearheaded the study over the course of 19 years, speculated that “having children at a more developmentally-expected time could have been more able or willing to embrace fatherhood and shed negative lifestyle choices.”

Being a dad makes a man more caring

While over at Northwestern University, a study found that men become more caring when they become a father; they’re biologically wired to do so. Once they care for their offspring, their hormones change—chief of which is a drop in testosterone levels.

According to previous research, testosterone is responsible for boosting a male’s tendency to “compete for a mate.”

“Fatherhood and the demands of having a newborn baby require many emotional, psychological, and physical adjustments,” said study author Lee Gettler said in a statement. “Our study indicates that a man’s biology can change substantially to help meet those demands.” Moreover, Gettler’s research revealed lowered levels of testosterone may also protect men from certain chronic diseases.

smilingdad feat

photo: dreamstime

Being a dad stimulates weight gain

A study published in the journal Biology Letter found that male mammals, like primates, can “gain as much as 20 percent of their body weight,” when their mate (or partner) is pregnant. This is one type of sympathetic pregnancy symptom.

“Sympathetic pregnancy symptoms in men are referred to as ‘couvade’ (derived from the French ‘to incubate or hatch’), indicating that men share some of their mate’s pregnancy symptoms,” wrote the study’s authors. “These symptoms include weight gain, nausea, headache, irritability, restlessness, backache, colds, and nervousness.”

More on how fatherhood changes a man on the next page

Being a dad improves brain function

Various research have found that soon-to-be fathers experienced improvement in the part of their brains responsible for thought analysis, behavior regulation, and abstract thinking.

According to one study, “after childbirth, the neurons in this region showed greater connectivity, suggesting that having young children could boost the part of the brain responsible for planning and memory, skills parents need when having kids gives them more to keep track of.”

photo: dreamstime

photo: dreamstime

Being a dad enhances the “Love Hormone”

LiveScience also found that caring for a child increased a man’s oxytocin levels, or what is also known as the “love hormone.”

Psychiatrist James Swain of the University of Michigan told NBC news that, when a baby cries, “brain activity patterns don’t change as quickly for fathers as they do mothers.”

However, Swain’s research also found that fathers catch up neurologically at about four months. This was more true for stay-at-home dads because spending more time tending to their baby’s needs builds a stronger bond.

“Fathers seem to be particularly important in modern developed Western nations like the U.S., because there are so many people who are living in isolated nuclear families, largely separated from their extended family,” observed Swain. “That limits the number of potential helpers out there. It’s really important that fathers step up.”

LOOK: 15 Powerful photos of dads during birth that sum up the joys of fatherhood

Be sure to check out theAsianparent Community for more insightful stories, questions, and answers from parents and experts alike. If you have any insights, questions or comments regarding the topic, please share them in our Comment box below. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Google+ to stay up-to-date on the latest from theAsianparent.com Philippines!

Partner Stories
Parents, here's what you should do when your child sees you and your spouse fighting
Parents, here's what you should do when your child sees you and your spouse fighting
#SendLoveWithBebeBata
#SendLoveWithBebeBata
13 Must-haves for Your Online Baby Checkout Checklist
13 Must-haves for Your Online Baby Checkout Checklist
This Mommy Welfare Month, Absolute Gives Back The Love to Moms #SelfLoveIsBabyLove
This Mommy Welfare Month, Absolute Gives Back The Love to Moms #SelfLoveIsBabyLove

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Bianchi Mendoza

Become a Contributor

  • Home
  • /
  • Parenting
  • /
  • How fatherhood changes a man, according to science
Share:
  • Sex after delivery: Let's talk about it

    Sex after delivery: Let's talk about it

  • The Age of (Cyber) Bullying: How can parent's protect their children from cyber bullying

    The Age of (Cyber) Bullying: How can parent's protect their children from cyber bullying

  • Is your baby always sad? Different reasons why your baby is unhappy

    Is your baby always sad? Different reasons why your baby is unhappy

app info
get app banner
  • Sex after delivery: Let's talk about it

    Sex after delivery: Let's talk about it

  • The Age of (Cyber) Bullying: How can parent's protect their children from cyber bullying

    The Age of (Cyber) Bullying: How can parent's protect their children from cyber bullying

  • Is your baby always sad? Different reasons why your baby is unhappy

    Is your baby always sad? Different reasons why your baby is unhappy

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Baby Names
    • Delivery
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Advice for Parenting Kids
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Lifestyle Section
    • Local celebs
    • Celebrities
    • Money
    • News
  • FAMILY & HOME
    • Couples
    • Weekend & Holiday Guide
    • Health
  • Building a BakuNation
    • More
      • TAP Community
      • Advertise With Us
      • Contact Us
      • Become a Contributor


    • Singapore flag Singapore
    • Thailand flag Thailand
    • Indonesia flag Indonesia
    • Philippines flag Philippines
    • Malaysia flag Malaysia
    • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
    • India flag India
    • Vietnam flag Vietnam
    • Australia flag Australia
    • Japan flag Japan
    • Nigeria flag Nigeria
    • Kenya flag Kenya
    © Copyright theAsianparent 2022. All rights reserved
    About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
    • Tools
    • Articles
    • Feed
    • Poll

    We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

    We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

    theAsianparent heart icon
    Nais naming magpadala ng notification sa'yo tungkol sa latest news at update sa pag-aalaga ng baby at kanilang kalusugan.