Washington, Aug 3 - The father's involvement is compulsory for healthy upbringing of kids, says a new study.

The study found that when mothers and fathers enrolled together in 16-week sessions to work on their relationships, their children were much less likely to be depressed, anxious and hyperactive.

'The vast majority of family services -- from parenting classes to home visits -- are really aimed at mothers, while fathers are almost completely overlooked,' said Kyle Pruett, clinical professor of psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine (YSM) and co-author of study.

'The research is clear that the best way to create a healthy environment for children is to engage dads and moms together,' Kyle said.

Previous research has found that kids in the absence of fathers are most likely to suffer from psychological problems and drug addiction.

According to the most recent census statistics, one in three children in the US grow up without fathers.