America has a daddy issue.
Men in the US are becoming dads much later in life, according to a new analysis published in the journal Human Reproduction.
Stanford University researchers analyzed nearly 169 million births dating back to the 1970s. Back then, the average age of a first-time American father was 27.4 years old — and today, it’s increased by nearly three years, to 30.9. (That number’s a tad higher if that dad is college-educated, the researchers found.)
Fathers who were older than 40 are also on the rise: The likelihood of that went from 4.1 percent in 1972 to 8.9 percent in 2015.
The increase in the average dad age may seem slight, but it could have a ripple effect in public health. Most likely, older dads means fewer kids, the researchers say in a press release, which will probably affect demographics down the line. And, as men get older, their sperm get more mutations, leading to a potential rise in autism, schizophrenia and certain genetic conditions.
On the other hand, old dads are more likely to have better jobs and more resources, and be in a better place to contribute to child-rearing, the researchers say.
It seems that poster old-dad George Clooney, whose wife, Amal, gave birth to twins in June, would concur.
“I really didn’t think at 56 that I would be the parent of twins,” old dad Clooney told the Associated Press this week. “Don’t make plans. You always have to just enjoy the ride.”