The whole world got a very bad example in marital fidelity from an American CEO who was caught on camera having an affair with his Vice President for Human Resources during a concert of the famous singing group Cold Play.  The video went viral and many found it funny. I think it was a very tragic sign of why American civilization is under threat.  It is not an exaggeration when a U.S. professor titled a book about strong families “Get Married, Forge Strong Families and Save Civilization.”  The Philippine Constitution is very clear about marriage being an “inviolable institution” which makes it difficult for pro-divorce people to defend their cause in our society.  In many societies today, especially among the more economically developed ones, divorce is only one of the causes of the destruction of the family as the strong foundation of society.  Single parenthood where the Father is usually the one absent is another reason of the breakdown of the American family.

            One does not   have to turn to religious belief to defend the marriage institution in any society.  Social scientists have found abundant empirical evidences in their research about the role of, an always present father in the upbringing of children. Over the past several decades social science research has increasingly emphasized the significant role fathers play in the upbringing and development of children. While early research focused mostly on mothers, contemporary studies highlight that fathers contribute in distinct and meaningful ways to a child’s emotional, cognitive, and social well-being.

            Some key findings from research are as follows:

 Emotional and economic development

-Warm, engaged fathering is associated with higher self-esteem, greater social competence, and fewer behavioral problems in children.

-Children with involved fathers tend to have stronger emotional regulation skills and more secure attachments.

-Father involvement is linked with reduced rates of aggression, delinquency, and risk behaviors, especially during adolescence.

       2.  Cognitive and Academic Outcomes

            -Children whose fathers are involved in reading, play, and learning activities tend to perform better academically.

            -Father engagement correlates with higher IQ scores, better language development, and enhanced problem-solving skills.

            -Paternal involvement during early childhood is associated with better school readiness and long-term academic success.

            3. Gender Identity and Role Modeling.

            -Fathers often serve as important role models, especially in gender identity development.  For boys, involved fathers can promote healthy masculinity, emotional expression, and respect for others.  For girls, positive father-daughter relationships are linked to higher self-esteem, positive body image and healthy relationships later in life.

            4.  Long-term Life Outcomes

            -Adults who had nurturing, present fathers are most likely to experience stable employment, healthy relationships and better mental health.

            -Some studies suggest a correlation between father involvement and lower rates of incarceration, substance abuse, and mental illness in adulthood.

            5.  Unique contributions of Fathers

            -Fathers often engage in more physical and stimulating play, which supports risk assessment, independence and resilience of the children.

            -They may also challenge children differently, promoting problem-solving and emotional regulation through a different interaction style compared to mothers.

            6.  Content matters

-           -The quality of involvement matters more than simply being present.  A disengaged or abusive father can have negative effects.

            -Cultural, socioeconomic, and family structure variables also shape how fatherhood is expressed and experienced.  For example, in a good number of Filipino families, especially at the low-income and low-middle income levels, a good number of fathers work overseas (as in the case of seafarers).  Consistent, positive engagement (e.g. smart phone conversations, visits, emotional support) can still be beneficial.  The coparenting relationship between spouses can significantly influence the father’s ability to remain involved.  There is more than enough evidence from social science research that fathers are not just secondary caregivers, but central figures in the development of their children.  Their presence, engagement, and emotional support have lasting impacts across all areas of a child’s life.

            An American social scientist who has published much about his research on the role of Father in the upbringing of Children is Brad Wilcox who wrote, among others, the book entitled “Get Married, Forge Strong Families, Save Civilization.”  According to him, fathers generally complement mothers in their distinctive role and parenting style.  They engage in more active play—often encouraging risk and physical interaction—and tend to be firmer disciplinarians, complementing the nurturing style more common among mothers.  He recommends balanced co-parenting:  the combination of mothers’ empathy and fathers’ firmness creates a well-rounded approach to child-rearing.  In his book “Religion, Race, and Relationships in America,” there are five areas where fathers make unique contributions in the upbringing of children:   financial provision; protection from abuse/neglect; teaching emotional and behavioral regulation (especially through play); discipline (notably with sons); and modeling healthy male-female relationships. 

            The continued and strong presence of the father in a family with children has been proved with empirical evidence to have the following outcomes:

            -Reduced negative outcomes:  boys raised in intact, married families are about 50% less likely to end up incarcerated compared to those in single-parent or step-family settings.

            -Lower risk of sexual abuse:  children in intact homes are nearly 50% less likely to experience sexual abuse.

            -Fewer teen pregnancies:  Girls separated from fathers often experience earlier puberty, earlier sexual activity, and are three times more likely to become unwed mothers.

            -Community-level benefits:  Areas with high rates of fatherless households see significantly more violent crime, including robbery and murder.

            What about the long-term academic, behavioral and emotional development of children? The studies of Wilcox showed that, as regards academic performance, children in intact families consistently show higher grades.  For example, among white Americans, 85 % in intact families get A’s and B’s, versus 63% in father-absent ones.  Among Black and Hispanic children, the gap is even more glaring.   Married dads living with their kids spend about ten times more time with them than non-residential fathers.  In the State of Virginia, for example, married fathers were about three times more likely to be highly involved compared to only cohabitating dads. In a research conducted with young men, Wilcox found out those who grew up without their biological fathers experienced:   much lower college graduation rates (14% vs. 35%); about 70% higher likelihoods of being idle (neither working nor in school) in their mid-20s; almost double the chance of incarceration by age 30.    These negative effects of paternal absence are stronger than those tied to race of socio-economic background.

            Those of us who participated in the writing of the Philippine Constitution of 1987 are very happy that we insisted to include in our fundamental law two self-evident truths:  that marriage is an inviolable institution and that the family is the foundation of a strong society.  Wilcox presents hard evidence from his social science research that marriage enhances father involvement ; it is the most reliable institution for ensuring  fathers are actively present in their children’s lives.  This inviolable institution called marriage also ensures greater human happiness.  General Social Survey also validated the hypothesis that a marriage with children leads to greater human happiness compared to the childless ones. About 40% of married women with children report being “very happy” compared with only 25%  of married childless women.  Some 35% of married fathers report the same, versus less than 15%  of unmarried fathers.  Wilcox argues from evidence that marriage and parenthood together have the strongest link to adult happiness, above factors like income or career.  To be continued.