Growing Up in New Zealand. Key findings: Dads and health

This snapshot report takes a closer look at the health of the more than 4,000 participants in the Who are today’s dads? research project, focusing on their health and risks of future cardiovascular disease – the leading cause of death in New Zealand. Participant “dads” include biological fathers, stepfathers, adoptive and foster parents, co-mums, grandparents and other family members who are father-figures to six-year old children in the contemporary, longitudinal study Growing Up in New Zealand.

Dads’ involvement with their child can be affected by their own physical health in terms of their accessibility, engagement and responsibility. Dads’ health and health behaviours also impact on their child’s current and future development and wellbeing.