A recent study published in the journal Psychology & Sexuality provides intriguing insights into how fatherhood impacts men’s perceptions of masculinity and sexuality. The research reveals that fathers experience higher levels of both sexual esteem and sexual depression compared to non-fathers. Additionally, fathers are less likely to endorse the notion that masculinity is fragile and must be constantly maintained.
While societal perceptions of fatherhood have evolved significantly, with increasing recognition of the so-called “Dad I’d Like to F*ck” (DILF) phenomenon, little is known about how men themselves perceive their masculinity and sexuality upon becoming fathers. This gap in the literature prompted the researchers to explore whether fatherhood enhances or undermines men’s sense of masculinity and sexual self-esteem.
Historically, masculinity has been closely tied to ideals such as stoicism, dominance, and independence. However, modern fatherhood often demands a different set of attributes, such as emotional expressiveness, nurturing, and active participation in childcare and domestic duties. These evolving expectations can create a tension for men, potentially challenging their traditional views of masculinity.
Additionally, the researchers sought to identify specific factors that contribute to sexual esteem and depression among fathers. Previous research suggested that factors like parental stress, changes in partner dynamics, and self-perceived masculinity could significantly impact a father’s sexual wellbeing. By exploring these predictors, the researchers hoped to gain insights into how fatherhood affects men’s sexual identity and mental health.
The study utilized an online survey to collect data from 564 participants, ultimately resulting in a final sample of 490 individuals after data cleaning. The participants were primarily heterosexual White men from North America. The sample included 138 fathers and 352 non-fathers.
Participants first completed a demographic questionnaire, providing information on age, gender identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, relationship status, and level of education. Fathers were asked additional questions regarding their fatherhood status, including whether they had biological, step, adopted, or foster children.
The primary measures used in the study included scales for sexual esteem, sexual depression, and precarious manhood beliefs. Sexual esteem was assessed using a five-item subscale evaluating individuals’ confidence and satisfaction with their sexual abilities. Sexual depression was measured with another five-item subscale focusing on negative emotions and dissatisfaction related to one’s sexual life. Precarious manhood beliefs were gauged through an adapted version of a seven-item scale, with questions tailored to assess personal beliefs about the fragility of one’s masculinity.
Fathers also completed additional items to capture their perceptions of masculinity before and after becoming a parent, their levels of parental stress and exhaustion, and changes in their own and their partner’s sex drive since becoming parents. The survey was administered through the Qualtrics platform, and data collection occurred between June 2020 and July 2021.
The study revealed several significant differences between fathers and non-fathers in terms of their sexual and masculinity-related perceptions. Fathers reported higher levels of sexual esteem than non-fathers, suggesting a greater confidence in their sexual abilities and desirability. However, fathers also experienced higher levels of sexual depression, indicating more negative emotions related to their sexual lives. This duality suggests that fatherhood can intensify both positive and negative sexual perceptions.
Fathers also endorsed precarious manhood beliefs to a lesser extent than non-fathers, implying that they viewed their masculinity as more stable and less easily threatened. This finding aligns with the notion that fatherhood might provide a sense of completeness and reinforce a man’s masculine identity by fulfilling traditional roles of provider and caregiver.
Further analysis among fathers identified specific predictors of sexual esteem and depression. A high personal sex drive was a significant predictor of greater sexual esteem, indicating that fathers who maintained a strong interest in sex felt more positive about their sexual identity.
In contrast, sexual depression among fathers was predicted by high levels of parental stress, low partner sex drive, and low self-perceived masculinity after becoming a parent. These factors suggest that both external pressures (like stress and partner dynamics) and internal perceptions of masculinity significantly impact fathers’ sexual wellbeing.
“This study adds to the limited research on fatherhood and sexuality throughout the lifespan,” the researchers concluded. “Our findings indicate that fathers have lower endorsement of precarious manhood beliefs, greater sexual esteem, and greater sexual depression than non-fathers.”
“Further, we found that sexual esteem and depression during fatherhood were predicted by constructs related directly or indirectly to masculine norms; sexual esteem was predicted by high personal sex drive, while sexual depression was predicted by low partner sex drive, low self-perceived masculinity, and high parental stress. These findings illustrate the need for further investigation regarding men’s perceptions and expressions of masculine norms during fatherhood, and the resulting effects of their sexual wellbeing.”
The study, “The virility-fertility tradeoff: effects of fatherhood on (precarious) masculinity, sexual esteem, and sexual depression,” was authored by Shelby Hughes, Flora Oswald, and Cory L. Pedersen.