US EditionA Father’s Poor Mental Health May Harm His Children’s Development, Study Finds
- A 2024 study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that fathers' mental distress before and after birth is linked to poorer child development from birth through adolescence.
- This study followed 674 associations, including 286 from unpublished work, and highlights the need to support fathers similarly to mothers, who have been routinely screened since 2010.
- Researchers noted that paternal mental distress affects children's social, emotional, cognitive, and language development, especially in early childhood, and may disrupt father-child attachment.
- Dr. Craig Garfield, lead author and pediatrician, highlighted that welcoming a newborn often presents significant challenges for both mothers and fathers, noting that by the end of 2025, PRAMS for Dads will gather data on paternal health across eight U.S. states.
- The findings imply that health care and policy should expand father-tailored programs for mental health support to improve family well-being and child outcomes during the perinatal period.
34 Articles
34 Articles
When new dads struggle, their kids’ health can suffer. Tackling mental distress early can help
D-BASE/GettyIn Australia, an estimated one in ten men experience mental health issues such as anxiety and depression before and after their child is born (the perinatal period). Alongside emotional ups and downs and exhaustion, new dads may also be facing greater practical demands, such as caring for the baby, supporting their partner, and providing financially. It’s not surprising, then, that becoming a dad may be linked to increased psychologi…
A father’s poor mental health may harm his children’s development, study finds
By Kristen Rogers, CNN (CNN) — Mothers bear much of the burden for a child’s healthy development, from pregnancy through their teen years. But a large, new study adds to the growing body of evidence saying fathers, too, are responsible for the types of development that help children grow physically, emotionally and cognitively. Fathers’ mental distress is slightly associated with subpar child development, including cognitive, social-emotional, l…
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