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Study finds depression risk factors in expectant fathers

Expectant fathers had increased risk for depression if they reported feeling stressed or poor health during their partner’s pregnancy, according to recent findings.

“Nearly 9% of men report a lifetime presence of depression and 2.6% report a depressive episode within the past year. Pregnancy and childbirth may be high-risk periods for male depression. Yet, interest in perinatal depression has focused on women despite policies to improve the sex balance in research,” Lisa Underwood, PhD, of University of Auckland, New Zealand, and colleagues wrote. “Studying mothers and fathers should be a guiding principle in developmental research.”

To determine characteristics associated with depression symptoms among men with pregnant partners who subsequently gave birth, researchers analyzed a longitudinal cohort study sample of 3,523 New Zealand men. Study participants completed interviews during their partner’s pregnancy and 9 months after childbirth. The cohort had a mean age of 33.2 years at baseline.

Overall, 2.3% of fathers reported prenatal depression symptoms, which were associated with perceived stress (OR = 1.38; 95% CI, 1.3-1.47) and fair to poor health (OR = 2.06; 95% CI, 1.18-3.61) during their partner’s pregnancy.

Increased postnatal depression symptoms were reported among 4.3% of fathers and were associated with perceived stress in pregnancy (OR = 1.12; 95% CI, 1.08-1.17), no longer being in a relationship with the child’s mother (OR = 6.36; 95% CI, 2.28-17.78), having fair to poor health 9 months after childbirth (OR = 3.29; 95% CI, 2.1-5.16), being unemployed at 9 months (OR = 1.86; 95% CI, 1.11-3.1) and a history of depression (OR = 2.84; 95% CI, 1.69-4.78).

“Only relatively recently has the influence of fathers on children been recognized as vital for adaptive psychosocial and cognitive development. Given that paternal depression can have direct or indirect effects on children, it is important to recognize and treat symptoms among fathers early, and the first step in doing that is arguably increasing awareness among fathers about increased risks,” the researchers concluded. – by Amanda Oldt

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.