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Research shows why fathers are so important
Why fathers are important
A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty. - photo by Shutterstock.com
Aaron Anderson
Deseret News National
Updated: Jun 17, 2014, 7:00 PM
Published: Jun 16, 2014, 3:41 PM

With Father's Day right around the corner, it's nice to hear stories about fathers who are making a difference in their children's lives. But did you know that just having a father in your life makes a difference? It's true. There is a host of research showing the benefits fathers have on their children compared to children in father-absent homes. Unfortunately, having absent fathers is becoming a bigger and bigger trend in America. It's a trend that people are calling "Fatherless America."

Fatherless America: The Numbers
If you haven't heard the term "Fatherless America," you might be in for a shock. Here's why: According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2010 data, approximately 1/3 of children in the U.S. live in father-absent homes. And that number may be growing. In the same report, it shows that nearly half of all children born in 2010 are born to single mothers.

The Downsides of Fatherless America
Some people wonder if it's such a bad thing to have so many single mothers. After all, single mothers are capable and strong and have shown that they can raise children on their own just fine. But while single mothers truly are remarkable, capable and strong figures, the truth is that fathers have a positive effect on children that mothers just can't replace. In fact, children in father-absent homes have many are more at risk for certain things that children in father-present homes.

For example, in the book, "Why Fathers Count" by Sean Brotherson and Joseph White, the authors detail research that shows children from father-absent homes are much more likely to be living in poverty and also reliant on some form of public assistance. These children are also more likely to have lower educational attainment, practice unsafe sexual practices, be more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol and also have poorer health outcomes such as obesity. Children who were born in homes without fathers were also more at risk for child abuse and incarceration.

The Benefit of Fathers
However, children with active fathers in their lives were shown to have many positive outcomes. Children with active fathers present have fewer incidences of depression, are at less risk for eating disorders, have better social skills, higher educational attainment and higher scores on measures of self-esteem. These children with active fathers were also shown to score higher on certain developmental milestones. Lastly, children who grew up with active fathers in their home were shown to have stronger gender identity than their counterparts with absent or less active fathers.

So this Father's Day, be sure to thank your father for the many good things he gave you. And just having him around is reason enough to give him thanks. After all, there are a lot of children out there who don't have one.

Aaron Anderson is a therapist and owner of The Marriage and Family Clinic in Denver, CO. He is a writer, speaker and relationship expert. Checkout his blog RelationshipRx.net for expert information on improving all your important relationships.
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
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A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
Herb Scribner
Deseret News
Published: Aug 13, 2018, 1:39 PM
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.