Study from Singapore shows the effect of paternity leave on children's development

Straits Times

14 hours ago

Mr Keith Low took two weeks of paternity leave when his daughter was born, and four weeks for his son. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
Kids do better on tests, have fewer behavioural issues when dads take 2-week paternity leave: Study
SINGAPORE – Children grow up with better problem-solving and word-recognition skills, as well as fewer behavioural problems, when their fathers take at least two weeks of paternity leave, a ground-breakin g l ocal study has found.
The study is based on data from the ongoing Singapore Longitudinal Early Development Study ( SG-Leads ) of more than 5,000 children. It looked at the families of 3,895 children born since May 1, 2013, when one week of government-paid paternity leave wa s introduced.
'This is the only study worldwide to be able to establish this relationship,' says its principal investigator, Professor Jean Yeung, director (social sciences) at A*Star's Institute for Human Development and Potential. She was assisted by Dr Li Nanxun, a scientist from the institute.
The study is unique as it used data from a nationally representative sample of children, and had rigorous controls to rule out factors such as socio-economic and demographic factors, family relations and the effect of domestic helpers and grandparents, Prof Yeung adds.
Families were interviewed between 2018 and 2019, when their children were aged three to six, and again in 2021, when the kids were three to eight. The study did not ask fathers if they took paternity leave in a continuous stretch or broke it up.
Th e interviewers tested children's academic performance in their homes, using letter-word identification and applied problems skills involving numbers from the fourth edition of the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement, an international standardised test.
C hildren whose fathers took two weeks of paternity leave or more, on average, scored at the 62th percentile on applied problems, compared with the 50th percentile of kids whose fathers did not take any paternity leave.
However, Prof Yeung says these figures are before controlling for socio-economic or demographic variables and were not included in the statistical analysis of its research paper published in the Journal of Marriage and Family in March .
Families also answered 30 questions about their children's behavioural problems, from externalising ones such as 'being mean to others or deliberately destroying one's own or others' things' , and internalising ones such as 'being too clingy or anxious'. Parents were also asked about the state of their relationship with their kids and their marriage.
Mr Keith Low, his wife Jermine and their children, Avril (bottom left), two, and Joaquin, one. Mr Low says he wanted to be a present dad from the start, which is why he took paternity leave for both his kids.
ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
Prof Yeung says paternity leave indirectly contributed to fewer behavioural problems and better test scores since family relationships improved, fathers felt closer to their child, and mothers felt less stressed and reported higher marital satisfaction.
She hopes more can be done to encourage workplaces to support paternity leave, particularly for low-income fathers who are less likely to take it. Fifty-three per cent of dads took paternity leave in 2022, and blue-collar workers were least likely to apply for it because of job concerns.
Working fathers of Singaporean children who fulfil certain eligibility criteria can now take up to four weeks of government-paid paternity leave. Since April 1, they are also entitled to six weeks of shared paternity leave with their wives, if eligible.
'It's not just about two weeks of time. Fathers who take paternity leave also feel a sense of purpose and responsibility for this new person whom they brought into the world. That sense of fatherhood is critical and has a long-lasting effect,' says Prof Yeung.
She is also a professor with the Department of Paediatrics at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine an d f ounding director at the National University of Singapore's Centre for Family and Population Research.
Ms Sun Xueling, Senior Minister of State for National Development and Transport, calls this 'an important study supporting what we know anecdotally, that strong paternal bonds enhance children's cognitive and socio-emotional development'.
She adds: 'Our recent moves to increase paternity leave to four weeks will allow more fathers to spend quality time with their newborns. The Government hopes to work collaboratively with employers to support new parents in their parenthood journey.'
Dr Xander Ong says paternity leave is not just a perk for dads, but a critical investment in their child's future. He is seen here with his son, now aged two.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF XANDER ONG
Concurring, Dr Xander Ong, 41, chief executive of the non-profit Centre for Fathering, says that 'this research highlights that paternity leave is not just a perk, but also a critical investment in their child's future and the marriage'.
'It e ncourages us to rethink the role of fathers, showing that their presence has a measurable and positive impact. For society, we need to collectively support the involvement of fathers, especially during this crucial early childhood period,' he adds.
The centre plans to introduce a 1000 Days Programme in 2026 that will provide resources, education and community support to help fathers navigate the critical first thousand days of their child's life.
More dads involved from the start
Fathers have increasingly become more hands-on parents in recent decades.
The KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH), where most babies in Singapore are born, sees steady participation from dads in its antenatal programmes, which have actively involved fathers since 1995, says Mr Melvin Tan, its chief communications officer. It works with the Centre for Fathering on its current programme for fathers.
Almost half of fathers were present for their child's appointments at KKH's Department of Child Development from 2022 to 2023, says Dr Yeleswarapu Sita Padmini, head of clinical services in the department.
More husbands are also asking doctors how to support their wives emotionally in the first weeks after delivery, says Dr Elizabeth Siak, head and consultant in KKH's Women's Mental Wellness Service at the Department of Psychological Medicine.
She advises dads to support their wives after labour by taking over household chores, sharing night feeds and ensuring their partner gets enough rest, as well as spotting signs of postnatal depression.
'Just being present and emotionally available can deeply impact a new mother's well-being. This means listening without trying to fix everything, staying calm when things get overwhelming, and watching for signs that she might be struggling emotionally,' she says.
Doting dads treasure time with newborns
Some companies are also supporting fathers with generous paternity perks.
Singapore-based proptech firm PropertyGuru has offered its Singapore employees 16 weeks of paternity leave since October 2023, which matches the Government's maternity leave entitlements. Twelve fathers out of its over 200 staff members here have benefitted from it .
'Our equal maternity and paternity leave policy recognises that childcare is a shared responsibility,' says Ms Helen Snowball, the company's chief people officer. Its paternity leave benefits vary from country to country, depending on local laws.
Mr Pedro Pereira says his company's 16-week leave benefit allowed him to better support his wife, Ms Lily Jang, and their daughter, Ines, who was born in December 2023.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF PEDRO PEREIRA
Mr Pedro Pereira, 42, an engineering director with PropertyGuru, says the extended paternity leave was 'quite a blessing'.
He and his wife, Ms Lily Jang, 32, who works in business development for a tech company, struggled with fatigue from looking after their daughter soon after she was born in December 2023.
While they had a confinement nanny, the couple – who are Singapore permanent residents – were their baby's main caregivers. Mr Pereira would take on night duties, while his wife and the nanny slept.
'Being present during the labour and then seeing your child in those first weeks creates an affinity – you want to be involved in every moment. Since I've gone through this experience, I can understand why it would have such a positive impact (as the study shows),' he says.
Some self-employed dads say they gladly took extended time off when their children were born.
Mr Keith Low, 36, an associate director of financial advisory firm Finexis Advisory, took two weeks of paternity leave after his daughter was born in 2022 and four weeks for his son, who was born in 2024. He would also stay up for night feeds to let his wife recuperate.
'You may miss a promotion for the year, but it is better than missing your infant's first moments in this world,' says Mr Low, whose parents' divorce when he was 12 left him wondering if he could be a good father.
'B eing involved doesn't stop after paternity leave. It is what we consistently do for the children before their teenage years that will also lead to them being better people in future.'
Besides bonding with their newborns, fathers say paternity leave gives them a chance to rekindle their relationship with their wives.
Mr Pereira says: 'Childbirth was not easy for her, and neither was the lack of sleep from the constant feedings. To have your partner reassuring you and making you feel loved, goes a long way in the recovery process.'
Emcee and part-time 91.3 radio DJ Kyle Ravin says taking two months of paternity leave allowed him to 'fall in love' with his wife, Ms Natasha Vijaya, all over again. Their daughter, Nicolette, was born in April 2024.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF KYLE RAVIN
Emcee and part-time 91.3 radio DJ Kyle Ravin, 36, whose daughter was born in April 2024, adds: 'Taking paternity leave allowed me to fall in love with my wife more.'
He stopped work a couple of weeks before his baby was due and took a total of two months off. He and his wife, public relations account director Natasha Vijaya, 30, chose to care for their newborn by themselves, with minimal supervision from her mother during the first two weeks.
That shared suffering through sleepless nights to bring up their child the way they wanted brought them closer.
He says: 'Paternity leave was another honeymoon with my wife because it showed us that we are good teammates an d p artners.'
Stephanie Yeo is senior correspondent at The Straits Times' Life section.
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