ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the thoughts of fathers concerning the relationships between fathering and perceived changes in health over time. No father perceived that his health was unchanged, and although most men associated perceived changes in health to be associated with various aspects offathering, a small minority of men felt that changes in their health were attributable to aging, but not fathering. Most changes in health associated with fathering were positively regarded by fathers. Many fathers discussed improvements in their diets, reduction ofharmful habits, increased access and use of health services, and reductions in risk-taking behavior. On the other hand, fathers attributed decreased exercise, lack of sleep, and increased stress to fathering. A significant finding is that, for the sake oftheir children, fatherhood was perceived to motivate men to reduce or eliminate detrimental behaviors that they had been unmotivated to change prior to fathering. Sample fathers discussed reduction ofhealth risk-taking behaviors, and greater desire to care for their health for their children's sake.
