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Why Kids Are Good For Men

Why Kids Are Good For Men

Scientifically Proven: The Real Impact Of A Good Father

Fatherhood brings a myriad of new experiences to a man’s life: Being handed a whining kid after a long day at the office, Saturday morning rink time with kids who skate on their ankles, kids barfing in your bed. So who says fatherhood is rewarding?

Fatherhood: a life-saver, literally

Well, science does. A new 19-year study shows that one of the best ways to become a better man is to become an involved father. The study followed more than 200 at-risk boys and looked at a host of deviant behaviors such as criminal activity, alcohol use and marijuana use, and compared them to various life changes. The results? The single most important factor that leads men to clean up their act is fatherhood. Even more so than finding a good woman. And the men who waited until their late 20s or early thirties to become fathers had the greatest benefits. Teen fathers didn’t benefit so much.

So why are kids the magic that can turn a bad man good? While there are plenty of psychological and social factors such as the role of care-giving, teaching and the responsibility of being a provider, there is also one big biological factor: testosterone. Soon after a baby is born, a new father’s testosterone drops. If he is involved in some form of daily care of that baby, his testosterone drops even more steeply.

Testosterone can be your enemy

Testosterone has long been known as a contributing factor to crime and other forms of deviant behavior in men. Men with lower testosterone levels tend to have way fewer stints in jail cells or drug rehab clinics.

But before you jump to the conclusion that men with lower testosterone tend to be the homey types who settle down behind a white picket fence and therefore show up on fatherhood studies, think again. Men with high testosterone levels are most likely to become fathers. One of testosterone’s great features, besides influencing criminal activity, is that is fuels male-to-male competition for mates. So the highly sexual and aggressive dudes get the girl, and if they hang out and participate in fatherhood, they also get a good-guy makeover.

Oh, and let’s not dismiss the importance of a close and loving relationship with a baby mama. Marriage and committed romance help a man lower a particular stress hormone. Adult committed love can reduce stress and increase a man’s health. Single men often have poorer health than married men and fathers. Researchers speculate that this, again, could be related to lower testosterone levels that might protect them against certain chronic diseases as they age. Marriage has also been shown to help men recover from cancer easier and acquire more wealth.

But if you’re just looking to clean up your act and walk the straight and narrow, try diaper changing. For bad boys, kids can be life-changing.

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