Have you ever noticed that a man becomes more loving or sensitive when his partner is pregnant? Maybe you've seen a soon to be father listening to his partner's belly or feeling his child kick for the first time. Well, a recent study suggests that this is not purely coincidence and this happens not because some men are simply that way.
Previous research has suggested that men who are active in the care of their own child have lower testosterone levels compared to those of single men. This could be the cause of the affection and perceived sensitivity. Men with children are also less likely to perform acts of infidelity and are even at a decreased risk of undergoing a divorce.
According to an article on ZME Science, it is quite efficient from an evolutionary point of view that men would forego their biological need for mating some time in their transition to becoming a father. However, only until recently did we know when exactly this happens during this transitional stage. A group of researchers have conducted a study regarding the correlation between the testosterone levels of a father and their effectiveness as a parent once their child is born into the world, as per an article from Psypost.
The father's testosterone levels have actually been found to drop progressively as his partner's pregnancy develops. This change makes a positive correlation between the parents' testosterone levels, as per the study led by Darby Saxbe of the University of Southern California. A better correlation between the parents suggests higher involvement in childcare, which leads to a happy and healthy childhood. The researchers also found that the father's level of testosterone post-childbirth has some effect on his relationship outcomes.
So the next time you see a man being affectionate and sweet to his pregnant partner, now you know why.
