Longevity Through Paternity Leave. Seriously.

Dads who spend at least a month at home, taking care of their young children live 18% longer than those who don’t. Yes, it seems the secret to longevity is tending for young children. (I suspect the scales get balanced years later when Dads have to take care of teenagers.)

These are the results of a Swedish study that studied parents for over 20 years. (Moms who provide care for their young children tend to live 16% longer, by the way.) You can read all about it in this article from GreaterGood.com, which primarily deals with how to develop a Dad-friendly workplace. (Talk about burying the lede!)

The article goes on to cite a recent Boston College study, “The New Dad,” that focuses on the concept of paternity leave, its importance and how to develop a working environment that allows Dad the opportunity to maintain a healthy work-Dad balance. The BC study is meaningful because it makes the business case for a father-friendly work culture. It’s a convincing argument, and an effective way (arguably the only effective way) to bring about this kind of attitude change.

Here is yet another piece of evidence of the evolving perceptions and expectations of Dads in the 21st century. It’s good to see.