Differences in Reporting Child’s Health and Developmental Concerns Between Mothers and Fathers

Differences in Reporting Child’s Health and Developmental Concerns Between Mothers and Fathers

Project Period: 2017 - present PI: Amy Houtrow, MD, PhD, MPH 
Funding Source: internal
Researchers: Thomas K Hagerman, BS

The National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) 2007 and 2011-12 data were pooled. Responses from fathers in households headed by two parents were compared with responses from mothers in households headed by two parents for the following health questions: child’s general health status, the condition of the child’s teeth, presence of five factors contributing to special health care needs status, presence of one of the 18 chronic conditions listed in the NSCH, presence of unmet needs. Additionally, for sample children under the age of five, fathers were compared to mothers on their responses to nine different developmental concerns. 

Overall researchers found that fathers were less likely to identify an ability limitation, added service use, and the need or use of a prescription medicine. Fathers were also less likely to report one of the 18 chronic conditions and more likely to report their child’s health as very good or excellent. Fathers were less likely to report any general unmet need as well as any unmet medical, mental health, vision, and dental needs. Compared to mothers, fathers were more likely to report that they were concerned about a broad range of development issues such as the child’s ability to understand spoken language and the child’s progress in learning to do things for herself/himself.

This study indicates that, in households headed by two parents, fathers may report on their children’s health and health care needs differently than mothers. To our knowledge, no other reports using a nationally representative sample of children have identified this difference. Clinically, when caring for children, providers should be cognizant of the different reporting style of mothers and fathers.