--- title: How Fatherhood Improves Men’s Well-Being description: In this insightful blog post, learn how fatherhood benefits men's well-being and physical and mental health. get practical tools and resources to help dads navigate the challenges and embrace their role as fathers. image: https://www.fatherhood.org/hubfs/Social%20Media%20Images%20for%20Infographics/NFI-Dads-Good-for-Dads-LinkedIn-02.png --- [Skip to main content](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/how-fatherhood-improves-mens-well-being#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) [men's health](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/topic/men39s-health) # How Fatherhood Improves Men’s Well-Being 2 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-Dads-Good-for-Dads-LinkedIn-02](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Social%20Media%20Images%20for%20Infographics/NFI-Dads-Good-for-Dads-LinkedIn-02.png?width=600&height=314&name=NFI-Dads-Good-for-Dads-LinkedIn-02.png) When my wife confirmed she was pregnant with our first child, I experienced the joy of learning that wonderful news. Eventually, though, my thoughts gravitated to wondering what impact being a father would have on me.  I wondered, “How will this gift change my life?” The year was 1994. There wasn’t a source of information and resources for expectant dads on what to expect from and how to prepare for the most important role of my life. Ironically, that was the same year [National Fatherhood Initiative](https://www.fatherhood.org/)® (NFI) was founded. Nearly three decades removed from that life-changing moment, I’ve had the honor to work with an outstanding group of people to help our partners across the country provide the evidence-based and evidence-informed information and resources that help expectant dads prepare for and succeed in raising their children. One of the ways in which NFI prepares men for fatherhood is to help them understand the benefits that fatherhood brings to men’s well-being. A [recent study](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30819043/) of more than 18,000 parents, for example, compared the well-being of fathers to men who aren’t fathers and the impact of becoming a parent on dads and moms. The researchers discovered that dads had:  - Greater happiness, subjective well-being, psychological need satisfaction, and daily uplifts than did men without children - Greater happiness than moms when caring for their children compared with parents’ other activities - Higher happiness than moms when interacting with their children But here’s the rub with research. It’s just, well, research. What makes research most helpful is when it’s used to create practical tools that effect positive change. That’s one of the things NFI does well. A great example *is *[*Why Involved Dads are Good for…Dads!*](https://www.fatherhood.org/hubfs/2022%20Strengths%20Based%20Infographics/fathers-well-being-infographic.pdf), the latest addition to our line of free [strengths-based infographics](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-absence-statistic) that organizations like yours can share with dads, moms, and others in your community. This infographic highlights all the ways in which men benefit physically and mentally when they become a dad and when they’re involved in their children’s lives. Speaking of mental health, fatherhood comes with challenges as well as benefits. One of the answers to my question about the impact fatherhood would have on me was another question: How would I handle this awesome responsibility? Especially in the absence of a good role model for a father. Would I struggle to handle it from a mental and emotional perspective? I have no doubt that if you serve expectant and new dads, many of them have wondered the same thing. Fortunately, NFI has a new resource to help those dads that’s been flying out of our warehouse: [*Three Steps for Dads to Take Care of Their Mental Health*](https://store.fatherhood.org/brochure-three-steps-for-dads-to-care-for-their-mental-health/). This new brochure helps expectant, new, and, frankly, all kinds of dads learn practical steps to care for their mental health and resources to help them take those steps. (Learn more about it and all of its uses [here](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/new-resource-three-steps-to-help-dads-care-for-their-mental-health).) Fortunately, NFI isn’t the only resource for information and tools on dads’ mental health. A case in point is the [National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse](https://www.fatherhood.gov/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwhL6pBhDjARIsAGx8D5_KQW6t_SvXpvA9GAHAlSwHE1JemzEuOS2H5VQfaaYowDLqEVaxZNsaAu-2EALw_wcB) (NRFC). I learned recently about the NRFC’s [list](https://www.fatherhood.gov/research-and-resources/roadmap-behavioral-health-guide-using-mental-health-and-substance-use) of resources on dads’ mental health. I encourage you to download it and see whether any of the resources can help the dads you serve. Do you share resources with dads on how to care for their mental health? How much would the fathering of the dads you serve improve with better mental health? [![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: 10/24/2023 Last Updated: 11/22/2024 ## 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/what-fathers-need-from-human-service-organizations) [ Next ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/8-tips-to-help-your-organization-employ-more-men) ## Related Articles ### [How to Help Fathers Prioritize Their Health June marks a significant time for raising awareness about men's health, but in the conversation about well-being, there's a crucial voice that often gets overlooked—the voice of ... Read More](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/how-to-help-fathers-prioritize-their-health) ### [Fit to Retire My father turned 50 at the beginning of this summer. He’s in great health, but I got a little worried when I noticed that he kept having doctor’s appointments recently. I asked ... 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