08 Jun AJPH: Fatherhood and Cardiovascular Health: Race-Based Differences Found in 35-Year CARDIA Study
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. Parker
John James (JJ) Parker, MD, MS
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics and Medicine
Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University
Attending Physician, Division of Advanced General Pediatrics & Primary Care
Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
Attending Physician, Transitional Care Clinic, Northwestern Medical Group
Chicago, Illinois 60611
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: Fathers are a critical but overlooked population. We know the health of fathers influences the health of their families and there is growing evidence that fatherhood influences men’s health, but studies from the US are lacking. This study used data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, which is a cohort study that has followed young adults for 35 years, allowing us to measure associations of fatherhood with health during the life course of men.
We found multiple associations between fatherhood and men’s health, and our outcomes differed by race. Black fathers had lower death rates than Black nonfathers, which we did not detect in White men. For both Black and White men, becoming a father at less than 25 was associated with poor health outcomes. For Black men early entry to fatherhood was associated with higher mortality rates and for White men it was associated with worse cardiovascular health.
MedicalResearch.com: What other factors might account for the racial discrepancies?
Response: Fatherhood has been associated with positive behavior changes in Black men, which may offer a possible explanation for our finding that Black fathers have lower death rates than Black nonfathers. Additionally, fathers may have a more robust social support and future caregivers, which can help promote health. Personally, I have seen this often with my patients — men who have loved ones that help them attend medical appointments and follow recommendations have much better outcomes than men who are trying to navigate health on their own.
MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?
Response: Fatherhood is a key moment in the life course of men, and motivates men to be healthy for their families, offering an important opportunity to promote the health of men. Men often see their child for the first time and think “I need to make important health changes for my family.” However, the competing demands of family and work often drive father’s personal health low on the priority list.
Yet, there are many opportunities to emphasize the importance of fathers’ personal health. For example, fathers are present in health care spaces as a partner and parent for obstetrician and pediatrician appointments, and this may be an excellent time to begin a conversation with fathers on the importance of their health. Furthermore, there are many health policy solutions to improve men’s health, like expanding paid leave, which can offer fathers the time to take care of themselves and their families. Similarly, workplaces can support new fathers and encourage fathers to focus on themselves and their families.
MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Response: Future research should continue to assess the influence of fatherhood on men’s health with dads today, since trends in parenting and health are constantly evolving.
Researchers need to design, test and implement interventions that promote the health of fathers. This involves tailoring intervention to meet the needs and perspectives of fathers. These interventions could be especially salient for Black fathers, who have lower death rates than Black nonfathers.
Future research should focus on the influence of health on other racial and ethnic groups, since this study only enrolled Black and White men.
MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add? Any disclosures?
Response: Work from this study was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
For more on cardiovascular health research, see MedicalResearch.com’s heart disease and cardiovascular research coverage.
According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, and understanding the social and behavioral factors that influence heart health across different populations is a critical area of ongoing research.
Citation:
John James Parker, Craig F. Garfield, Clarissa D. Simon, Laura A. Colangelo, Michael P. Bancks, Jamal S. Rana, Kelley Pettee Gabriel, and Norrina B. Allen.
Associations of Fatherhood and Race With Cardiovascular Health Among Men: Findings From the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study, 1985‒2022, United States
American Journal of Public Health. 0, e1–e10. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2026.308439
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Last Updated on June 8, 2026 by Marie Benz MD FAAD