Son Preferences and Mental Health of Fathers

Abstract

Fathers in Austria favor sons over daughters. Yet, those with sons have poorer mental health than those with daughters. This paper unveils this previously undocumented phenomenon using administrative and time-use data. At first glance, this son penalty in mental health appears paradoxical. Fathers thrive when a core preference remains unmet. However, we demonstrate that fathers of sons substantially increase their parenting investments. This observation resonates with the notion that the birth of sons augments fathers’ workload, potentially elevating stress and elucidating the mental health downturn. Our paper underscores the importance of exploring the dynamics of parental investment and well-being.