Fatherhood Improves Behavior, Diminishes Men's Smoking And Drinking, Says Study

Countless studies show how motherhood changes the body and mind of women. But now new research examines how fatherhood propels men to clean up their act -- and drop bad habits.

The recent study out of Oregon State University found that men cut back on drinking, tobacco and marijuana and also commit less crime after becoming dads, reports TIME.

Over 19 years researchers tracked the behavior of males from disadvantaged backgrounds aged 12 to 31, notes emaxhealth.com.

"This research suggests that fatherhood can be a transformative experience, even for men engaging in high risk behavior," said David Kerr, assistant professor of psychology at Oregon State University in a press statement.

"[It] presents a unique window of opportunity for intervention, because new fathers might be especially willing and ready to hear a more positive message and make behavioral changes," he said.

Researchers say those who became fathers in their late 20s and early 30s were more likely to drop bad habits than those who had kids in their teens or early 20s.

But perhaps men ditching risky behavior might be attributed to hormones. In September the New York Times reported on a study published by Northwestern University that showed testosterone dropped after fatherhood. Another behavior changer could simply be from a man being in a relationship. A Harvard study as far back as 2003 found that the more time men spend in relationships, particularly marriage, they are more likely to have lower testosterone.

Of course, fatherhood isn't the same for all men. An in-depth and entertaining look at punk rockers who have children in The Other F-Word is a perfect example of this. In the trailer below you'll get a glimpse of how tattooed rockstars grapple with the polarized worlds of punk and fatherhood -- and how being a part of both has changed them.

Comments

[scappini]

11:57 AM on 11/17/2011

Men are cleaning up their act more because parenthood is a 50-50 shared responsibility these days...as it should be. The WONDER YEARS are long gone.

So with the role of a father drastically changing dads are adapting...

Hey dads make sure your evolution comes full circle and visit
http://babyshowerforguys.com/Home#0

Celebrate fatherhood when you can the next 18 years are going to be wonderful and tough!

[samurai warrior]

08:25 PM on 11/12/2011

FATHERHOOD ALSO CREATES A BREACH BETWEEN THE MOTHER AND HER PARTNER AS SHE HAS TO CONCENTRATE ON THE CHILD THEY HAD TO HAVE. RESULT INCREASE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

[Big Baldheaded Baby]

02:21 PM on 11/11/2011

So I guess when women are young and single without children they never are irresponsible, lol. Where's the study on the "college girls gone wild crowd"? Also, why perpetuate a generalization that fatherless men ARE irresponsible? Are men who choose to develop their careers first before marrying and having kids irresponsible? The media's continual stereotyping and attack against men these days is relentless!

[Feline Mama]

02:54 PM on 11/11/2011

Maybe you should try reading the actual study before you comment Big Baldheaded Baby (a link is provided by HuffPost). This was a study of men started when they were children coming from at-risk neighborhoods. And these were men who were already doing crime, alcohol, drugs, etc.. and the study showed fatherhood decreased this behavior. So the study isn't making assumptions about fathers in general.

[Big Baldheaded Baby]

03:58 PM on 11/12/2011

look sucker, i was going by what was presented in the news article. maybe should direct your comments toward them so this "correct information" is presented properly in the article. My main point, which you deliberately ignored, is that it give sthe perception that men are the only gender that screws up and yet there is no parellel focus on females where the same results are likely.