Where’s Dad?

A must read article in Scientific America Mind (May/June 2014)  by Paul Raeburn provides hard data on the influence of fathers on their teenagers.  One such finding, “researchers have revealed a robust association between father absence – both physical and psychological – and accelerated reproductive development and sexual risk-taking in daughters”  reinforces the notion that having a Dad involved in a daughter’s life is essential for their having a balanced and mature attitude about their sexuality.  Girls who grew up with a high-quality father- who spent more time as a high investing father – showed the lowest level of risky sexual behavior.  There is more good stuff in the article and it also discusses Dad’s and sons.  The takeaway is that we have undervalued the role of father’s in our children’s development and if there is a single mom raising kids they must find others that can help fill the role of the absent father.

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