Expert Alert - The Joys of Fatherhood and Men’s Health

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) experts discuss health issues affecting dads

ATTENTION: Assignment editors, health, research and science reporters

OTTAWA - There are over 8 million fathers in Canada, according to Statistics Canada. Research has shown that a father’s involvement can affect the well-being of his children, but what about the impact of being a father on the man himself? Whether you’re expecting to be a dad or you’ve been one for years, having a child will change the way you live your life. Fatherhood is a central aspect of many men’s lives and can have both positive and negative effects on their health.

With Father’s Day just around the corner and in light of Men’s Health Week (June 15-21), CIHR experts are available to talk about the impact of fatherhood on men’s physical and psychological health, and vice-versa.
Experts:

For better or worse, a child can change your life: The impact of being a dad on a man’s health
Dr. Joy Johnson, Scientific Director of the CIHR Institute of Gender and Health (Vancouver)

Kicking the habit with the help of your kids: How your children can help you quit smoking
Dr. Joan Bottorff, CIHR-funded researcher from the University of British Columbia (Vancouver)

How staying fit can benefit dads: Exercise as a treatment strategy for erectile dysfunction in overweight men
Dr. Michael Adams, CIHR-funded researcher from Queen’s University (Kingston)

Setting an example: Why are men so reluctant to seek preventative health care?
Dr. Cara Tannenbaum, CIHR-funded researcher from the Université de Montréal (Montréal)

How mental health issues can affect single fathers
Dr. John Cairney, CIHR-funded researcher from McMaster University (Hamilton)

Facing the challenges of parenting: Raising children with mental or physical health problems
Dr. Dafna Kohen, CIHR-funded researcher from Statistics Canada (Ottawa)

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For an interview, please contact:
David Coulombe
CIHR Media Specialist
Office: 613-941-4563
Mobile: 613-808-7526
Email: mediarelations@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is the Government of Canada’s agency for health research. CIHR’s mission is to create new scientific knowledge and to catalyze its translation into improved health, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened Canadian health-care system. Composed of 13 Institutes, CIHR provides leadership and support to more than 13,000 health researchers and trainees across Canada.