--- title: [New Analysis] Five Decades of Research Shows Why Dad’s Involvement is Vital During the Prenatal Period description: A new analysis of more than 50 years of research shows why dads’ involvement prenatally is vital to children’s healthy development. image: https://www.fatherhood.org/hubfs/Images/Blog/NFI_Blog_dads-involvement-prenatal-period.jpg --- [Skip to main content](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/five-decades-of-research-shows-why-dads-involvement-is-vital-during-the-prenatal-period#main) - [![NFI mark](https://www.fatherhood.org/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI%20mark.svg)FATHERHOOD.ORG](https://www.fatherhood.org/) - [STORE.FATHERHOOD.ORG](https://store.fatherhood.org/) [![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=149&height=82&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=119&height=65&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=119&height=66&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=89&height=49&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ](https://www.fatherhood.org) - [How To Build Strong Families](https://www.fatherhood.org/build-strong-families) - [Why Father Inclusion Matters](https://www.fatherhood.org/why-father-inclusion-matters) - Show submenu for Get Involved Get Involved - [Fatherhood Programs](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/programs-and-resources) - [Train Your Staff](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/staff-training) - [State, County, and City Agency Services](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/collaborative-services) Open main navigation Close main navigation - Show submenu for Get Informed Get Informed - [How To Build Strong Families](https://www.fatherhood.org/build-strong-families) - [Why Father Inclusion Matters](https://www.fatherhood.org/why-father-inclusion-matters) - [Father Stats & Infographics](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-absence-statistic) - Show submenu for Get Involved Get Involved - [Fatherhood Programs](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/programs-and-resources) - [Train Your Staff](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/staff-training) - [State, County, and City Agency Services](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/collaborative-services) - Show submenu for Get Started Get Started - [Find Your Stage of Father Inclusion](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-inclusion) - [How Father Friendly Is Your Organization?](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-friendly) - [Get In Touch](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) [Store](https://store.fatherhood.org/?hsLang=en) [Get In Touch](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) [Store](https://store.fatherhood.org/?hsLang=en) Show submenu for Get Started Get Started - [Fatherhood Data & Statistics](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-absence-statistic) - [How Father Friendly is Your Organization?](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-friendly) - [Other Free Resources](https://www.fatherhood.org/nfi-free-resources) - [Talk With us to Get Started](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) National Fatherhood Initiative Blog / [Latest Articles](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood) [child welfare](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/topic/child-welfare) # [New Analysis] Five Decades of Research Shows Why Dad’s Involvement is Vital During the Prenatal Period 1 min read ![Christopher A. Brown](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/chris_circle_icon.png?width=100&height=100&name=chris_circle_icon.png) [** Christopher A. Brown ** ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/author/christopher-a-brown) Chris serves as the President of National Fatherhood Initiative® (NFI), where he is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of NFI's strategic plan and business model, as well as its operations and fundraising efforts. ![NFI_Blog_dads-involvement-prenatal-period](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/Blog/NFI_Blog_dads-involvement-prenatal-period.jpg?width=453&name=NFI_Blog_dads-involvement-prenatal-period.jpg) A [new analysis](https://srcd.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/cdep.12436) by a team at the University of Southern California of more than 50 years of research shows why dads’ involvement prenatally is vital to children’s healthy development. The analysis, originally reported on in the [Child & Family Blog](https://childandfamilyblog.com/expectant-fathers-child-development-prenatally), identified these three ways that the development of children is influenced by dads **prior to their children’s conception**. 1) Dads’ behaviors 2) Dads’ exposure to environmental toxins 3) Dads’ stress when they were young Additionally, the analysis revealed these four ways that children’s development is influenced by dads **during the pregnancy**. 4) Dads’ neurological and biological changes 5) Dads’ health-related behaviors 6) Dads’ depression and relationship quality with moms 7) The interaction between dads’ and moms’ hormone levels (To learn more about each of these seven influences, click [here](https://childandfamilyblog.com/expectant-fathers-child-development-prenatally).) **Unfortunately, public health and other human service organizations have been slow to respond with programs and services that leverage dads’ influence.** (For a free infographic that shows why, click [here](https://www.fatherhood.org/who-we-are#our-social-issue).) Therefore, the researchers call on organizations to do four things. 1) Consider dads’ health behaviors as well as moms’. 2) Assess and treat dads’ mental health as well as moms’. 3) Treat family stress and attend to the couple relationship. 4) Provide access for dads to family leave. Fortunately, [National Fatherhood Initiative®](https://www.fatherhood.org/) (NFI) has evidence-based and evidence-informed programs and resources that help human service organizations build their capacity to leverage dads’ influence for the benefit of children, moms, and families. Organizations can implement them during the prenatal and postnatal periods and beyond. They include programs and resources that help:  - Prepare dads during the prenatal period for their role in the pregnancy. - Increase dads’ involvement during the pregnancy. - Build pro-fathering attitudes, knowledge, and skills. - Increase relationship quality between dads and moms. - Improve coparenting. - Raise awareness of the importance of paternity leave. To learn more about NFI’s programs and resources, visit our [programs and resource page](https://www.fatherhood.org/programs-and-resources) and [fathersource.org](https://store.fatherhood.org/). Contact [our staff](mailto:info@fatherhood.org) for details on which programs and resources build capacity in each of these areas. How does your organization leverage dads’ influence during the prenatal and postnatal periods to ensure the healthy development of children? Do you want to learn more about how NFI builds the capacity of human service organizations to be father-inclusive? If so, click [here](https://www.fatherhood.org/who-we-are). [![Learn more about the Father Engagement Academy by National Fatherhood Initiative](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/135704/c81321f1-c981-43b7-aa34-e7e2228402a8.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/135704/c81321f1-c981-43b7-aa34-e7e2228402a8) Date Published: 03/08/2022 Last Updated: 03/08/2022 ## Learn How to Build a Fatherhood Program That Works Download this free guide for a proven 7-step roadmap—from making the case and securing funding for your program, to launching and measuring real results! [Get The Guide Now!](https://www.fatherhood.org/starting-a-fatherhood-program) ![7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program.png?width=700&height=700&name=7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program.png) [ Previous ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/fatherhood/primary-caregiver-fathers-and-mothers-are-equally-competent) [ Next ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/how-to-ensure-your-programs-and-services-are-parentally-balanced) ## Related Articles ### [What Fathers Need from Human Service Organizations There are many challenges faced by fathers in America, and more specifically, by those who participate in responsible fatherhood programs. But what are they? The Fatherhood ... Read More](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/what-fathers-need-from-human-service-organizations) ### [Vital Federal Guidance Affecting Dads Involved in the Child Support and Child Welfare Systems Do you serve dads involved in the child support and child welfare systems at the same time? If so, you might find helpful recent policy guidance issued by the federal entities ... Read More](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/federal-guidance-affecting-dads-involved-in-the-child-support-and-child-welfare-systems) ### [What’s Your State’s Grade on Child Support and Shared Parenting? Before you read the rest of this post, indulge me by rating your knowledge on a scale of 1-5 (1 = no knowledge and 5 = complete knowledge) in response to the following two ... 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