Fathers matter from the start: the role of expectant fathers in child development
Abstract
Extensive research has established that fathers’ engagement in parenting benefits children, but few studies have described how fathers contribute to child development even before birth. In this article, we consider both direct and indirect pathways through which expectant fathers shape child development during the prenatal period. Regarding direct pathways, we review work on expectant fathers’ contributions to child development through genetic and epigenetic processes, as well as neuroendocrine mechanisms. Regarding indirect pathways, we outline ways in which expectant fathers indirectly influence child development through the couple relationship. In so doing, we seek to provide a foundation from which to formulate future lines of inquiry on the role of expectant fathers in child development. This research can inform clinical interventions and policies geared toward improving the early caregiving environment and child development.
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Parents' psychosocial experiences become embedded in the future child's neurobiology, and parents influence children's neurodevelopment before birth.
“As DOHaD data demonstrate, parents’ psycho-social experiences are embedded in the future child’s neurobiology. Parents affect children’s neurodevelopment before birth.”
From The transition to parenthood in obstetrics: enhancing prenatal care for 2-generation impact (2022) · cites this paper as [14]
Biological cues tied to the pregnant parent's health, lifestyle, nutrition, social circumstances, and mental state, which a co-parent can also influence, help shape the fetal brain.
“The fetal brain is shaped, in part, by adaptation to biological cues related to the pregnant parent’s well-being, lifestyle, nutritional status, social factors, and mental health (each of which a co-parent can affect).11-15”
From The transition to parenthood in obstetrics: enhancing prenatal care for 2-generation impact (2022) · cites this paper as [14]
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The transition to parenthood in obstetrics: enhancing prenatal care for 2-generation impact
Monk, C., Dimidjian, S., Galinsky, E., Gregory, K. D., Hoffman, M. C., Howell, E. A., Miller, E. S., Osborne, C., Rogers, C. E., Saxbe, D. E., et al. (2022) · American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM · doi:10.1016/j.ajogmf.2022.100678 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Self-citation
- Authors
- Cardenas, S. I., Morris, A. R., Marshall, N., Aviv, E. C., Martínez García, M., Sellery, P., & Saxbe, D. E.
- Affiliations
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California ,
- University of Southern California (US)
- Group of Neuroimaging, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón , Madrid ,
- Venue
- Child Development Perspectives
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2022-02-10
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 54-59
- ISSN
- 1750-8592 (ISSN-L)
- 1750-8606
- OpenAlex
- W4200454167
- Cited by
- 46
- References
- 35
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 3
- FWCI
- 10.24
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Child Development Perspectives (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Fulbright Association
- National Science Foundation (1552452, DGE-1418060, DGE-1842487, DGE‐1418060, DGE‐1842487)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Demography › Family Dynamics and Relationships
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Infant Development and Preterm Care
- Keywords
- expectant fathers, father involvement, prenatal development, fatherhood, epigenetics, genetic contribution, neuroendocrine mechanisms, couple relationships, child development
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