The arrival of a first child sparks a whirlwind of hope and dreams in soon-to-be parents: the vision of a full, stable, and enriching family life intertwines with the excitement of the unknown.
In this blog post, we share research that explores how fatherhood impacts men’s brains.
The Brain of a Dad
Having a child brings physical, physiological, and psychological changes for both mothers and fathers. To understand this, Dr. Saxbe and his team studied first-time fathers in the United States before and after their children were born.
The researchers scanned the brains of 38 fathers around the 28th week of pregnancy and again six months after their babies were born. During these lab visits, and again at the 12-month mark, the participants also reported on their parenting experiences, sleep quality, and mental health.
The results were surprising: new fathers showed changes in the gray matter of the cortex—the brain tissue responsible for processing and interpreting information, memory, emotions, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
But the changes weren’t the same for everyone: the men who experienced more biological changes were also the ones most involved in parenting. These fathers reported greater enjoyment of fatherhood, stronger emotional bonds with their babies, and lower levels of parenting stress.
The authors interpret these brain changes as a mental adaptation to fatherhood: the brain reorganizes to support greater emotional and cognitive focus on caring for the baby. This helps fathers be better prepared to handle the challenges of their new role and to build a strong bond with their children—similar to findings in studies focused on first-time mothers. Forming that connection benefits men’s health—by increasing oxytocin, the “love hormone”—and supports children’s cognitive, social, and emotional development.
Caregivers Are Made: Brains Adapt, and So Should Our Policies
The study, beyond being fascinating, carries a powerful message: caregivers are made. Men have the neurobiological capacity to become great caregivers when they are actively involved in parenting—when they’re changing diapers, feeding, putting their babies to sleep, bathing them, and more.
So, how can we raise awareness, motivate, and support men in the region to get involved in early childhood and navigate the challenges of fatherhood? Answering this question means generating evidence to identify the most effective strategies and guide public policy design. Some key reflections:
- Promoting an equitable distribution of caregiving responsibilities is essential.
- Creating work environments that support and recognize the active role of fathers in childrearing is another important step. Future studies could explore how the brain changes related to fatherhood affect men’s social life, job performance, and productivity.
- Being involved in childcare requires time, dedication, and the right conditions. Paternity leave is a key tool to promote shared caregiving. However, in 8 out of 26 countries in the region, this type of leave still doesn’t exist—and in many where it is available, men use it infrequently. Understanding how to encourage its use is crucial. Factors such as the level of pay, whether the leave is mandatory, and its flexibility can significantly influence fathers’ decisions.
- Let’s also not forget the importance of caring for the caregiver. The mental health of caregivers impacts the quality of home interactions and children’s development. We must identify cost-effective interventions to support the mental health of fathers, mothers, and caregivers.
Beyond our roles as specialists at the IDB, our own experiences as a mom and a dad made this study resonate deeply with us. We’d love to hear your story: What changes surprised you during those first few months of fatherhood—or what changes did you notice in your child’s father? What other efforts do you think are needed to support you—or the dads in your community?
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