Traditional masculinity beliefs linked to sharper testosterone drops in dads caring for preschoolers

A new study published in Hormones and Behavior explores the connection between traditional beliefs about masculinity and testosterone levels in fathers caring for preschool-aged children. Contrary to popular belief, the findings indicate that men's views on gender roles do not correlate with their baseline testosterone levels. Instead, researchers discovered that the sharper the drop in testosterone experienced by a father while providing solo care for his preschooler, the more he adheres to traditional masculinity ideology – a belief system promoting toughness, emotional control, self-reliance, and avoidance of stereotypically feminine behaviors.

The study, led by University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Patty X. Kuo, aimed to investigate whether a father's beliefs about masculinity influenced his temporary testosterone changes when interacting with his child. Traditional masculinity norms often associate childcare and emotional warmth with women, potentially causing fathers with strong traditional beliefs to exhibit different reactions to parenting tasks than more egalitarian fathers.

In the study, 42 fathers and their 3- to 5-year-old children, primarily from the Midwestern United States, participated in a one-hour laboratory session. Beforehand, fathers completed an online survey measuring their endorsement of traditional masculinity ideology. Researchers found that fathers with more traditional views on masculinity experienced smaller drops, or even increases, in testosterone while interacting with their children, potentially reflecting their discomfort with emotionally nurturing roles.