The Transition to Fatherhood and the Health of Men

Much research explores the consequences of parenthood for women, but less is known about the health outcomes and trajectories of men who become fathers. This study examines the impact of fatherhood on diverse health behaviors and outcomes among a representative sample of Millennial men in the United States. The results indicate that the transition to fatherhood induces changes in health outcomes and behaviors that are both positive and negative. The study indicates that becoming a father induces weight gain and a decline in self‐reported health but reduces alcohol consumption. Effects on weight and alcohol use varied across strata defined by race and education, but changes in self‐reported health were consistent across subgroups. These consequences are not transitory. Rather, they persist over men's early adulthood. Fatherhood induces health‐related changes that endure over the first years after becoming a father, and which may contribute to morbidity and mortality in late adulthood.