If you’ve ever noticed that a hardened dad seems to melt the moment he has a little girl, science suggests you’re not imagining it.
Researchers have found that fathers of daughters are more loving, committed and supportive partners than dads of sons.
And this transformation begins almost as soon as their baby is born.
Researchers from Rutgers University pooled data from three studies involving 1,694 parents, encompassing the time from pregnancy to several years afterwards.
Analysis revealed girl dads were more likely to report feeling attached to their partners.
They were also more satisfied in their relationships compared to those who had sons.
Mothers of daughters, meanwhile, said they received more affection, encouragement, fairness, and support from their partners than mothers of boys.
Perhaps most strikingly, the effect appeared almost immediately.
Analysis revealed girl dads were more likely to report feeling attached to their partners. They also reported feeling more committed and trusting
Fathers of daughters showed a noticeable shift in relationship attitudes after their child was born, the study revealed.
They immediately became more secure in their relationships and reported greater support for their partners.
The researchers also found the ‘girl dad’ effect may be strongest when daughters are very young.
This suggests the early years are a particularly important time for fathers to invest in both their child and their relationship.
Mothers showed no equivalent pattern, suggesting the daughter effect is unique to fathers.
The study, published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, says one possible explanation is that fathers may instinctively see a stable, supportive partnership as especially beneficial for daughters’ future wellbeing.
Another possibility is that having a daughter triggers biological changes, such as shifts in hormone levels, that encourage nurturing and pair-bonding behaviour.
The researchers say there may also be social reasons for the effect. Having a daughter could make fathers feel more protective and increase their sense of responsibility towards the family.
Lead author Krystal Duarte said: ‘Our findings suggest that daughters may do more than shape their fathers’ parenting.
‘They may also strengthen fathers’ investment in their romantic relationships, making them more committed, supportive, and invested partners.’
Separate research has also revealed that ‘dad jokes’ are actually good for you.
Dad jokes are important in helping children learn to be embarrassed by their parents, according to Marc Hye–Knudsen, a researcher of humour at Aarhus University.
‘By teasingly striking at their children’s egos and emotions without teetering over into bullying, fathers build their children’s resilience and train them to withstand minor attacks and bouts of negative emotion without getting worked up or acting out, teaching them impulse control and emotional regulation,’ Mr Hye–Knudsen explained.
‘In light of this, it is worth considering dad jokes as a pedagogical tool that may serve a beneficial function for the very children who roll their eyes at them.
‘By continually telling their children jokes that are so bad that they’re embarrassing, fathers may push their children’s limits for how much embarrassment they can handle. They show their children that embarrassment isn’t fatal.’
