Lonely Dads: Novel Initiatives Tackle Men’s Parenting Struggles

Published 15 February 2024

Author
Nienke Creemers
2 min read

New fathers are experiencing a surge of loneliness, fuelled by men’s lack of friendships, stereotypes around fatherhood, and insecurity about their child-rearing skills. But several initiatives are helping them by offering a listening ear, companionship, and parenting expertise. We survey the drivers behind new-dad loneliness and highlight projects tackling the issue.

  • The Picture of Fatherhood: American author Richard Reeves argues in his 2022-published book Of Boys and Men that fathers are too often portrayed in pop culture as fools who complicate parenting, rather than competent caregivers. He believes this encourages them to be insecure and less involved in parenting, when they should be hands-on dads.

    This is reflected in numbers: 56% of American fathers feel their partners negatively judge their parenting skills, versus 49% of women (Pew, 2023). Furthermore, men are less likely to discuss family matters with friends – 47% in the US, compared to 67% of women (Pew, 2023).

  • Creating a Dads Network: UK-based social enterprise Dad La Soul organises large group playdates that enable lonely dads to meet other lonely dads. In doing so, they build better relationships with their children. The organisation found that 91% of the fathers who attend these playdates feel less socially isolated (Dad La Soul, 2023).

  • Dads’ Self-Improvement Journey: Berlin-based wellness app Dadditude instils confidence in fathers through an in-app community, guides on fatherhood, expert support from parenting coaches, and 10-minute audio summaries of parenting books. Colombian state initiative the School of Care for Men also teaches men to become better partners and fathers by offering classes on household tasks and child-rearing. See also 10 Relationship Trends to Watch.

For more on this topic, read Refining Modern Masculinity.