---
title: "Most Say Being a Father Today is More Difficult"
description: "About six-in-ten fathers believe being a dad has become more difficult than it was 20 or 30 years ago, and 48% of mothers agree, according to those surveyed with children under age 18."
date: "2012-06-12"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2012/06/12/most-say-being-a-father-today-is-more-difficult/"
---

# Most Say Being a Father Today is More Difficult

When asked whether the job of being a father is easier, more difficult or about the same as it was a generation ago, 63% of fathers with children under age 18 say it is more difficult; 8 percent say is easier and 26% say it is about the same.Among men, fathers are more likely than other men to say dads have taken on a greater role in recent decades (52% vs. 39%).

Mothers are more likely than fathers to say that today’s dads are more engaged with their children. Among mothers with children under age 18, 49% say fathers today spend more time with their children than fathers did 20 or 30 years ago. Only 36% of dads agree. Just about all fathers agree that the benefits of being a parent are worth the costs and the work; 70% say they agree strongly and another 27% agree.

There is little agreement, however, with the notion that people can’t be truly happy if they are not parents. Among fathers, only a small minority (14%) agrees or strongly agrees with the statement that people can’t be really happy unless they have children; 84% disagree or strongly disagree.

Men with no children are less likely than fathers to think that people can’t be really happy unless they have children—some 8% agree or strongly agree with that statement, while 91% disagree or strongly disagree. [Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2011/06/15/a-tale-of-two-fathers/3/#chapter-2-attitudes-about-fatherhood)