Depressive Symptoms In Fathers Research Articles

Risk, resilience, and depressive symptoms in low-income African American fathers.

Parental depression influences family health but research on low-income African American fathers is limited. The primary goal of the present study was to examine the role of paternal risk factors and resilience resources in predicting depressive symptoms in the year after birth of a child in a sample of African American fathers. We hypothesized that paternal risk factors (low socioeconomic status [SES], perceived stress, negative life events, racism, avoidant coping style) and resources (social support, self-esteem, collective efficacy, approach-oriented coping style) would predict depressive symptoms in fathers at 1 year postbirth controlling for depressive symptoms at 1 month postbirth. African American fathers (n = 296) of predominantly low SES from 5 U.S. regions were interviewed at 1 and 12 months after birth of a child regarding potential risk factors, resilience resources, and depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms were low on average. However, hierarchical linear regression analyses revealed that avoidant coping style and experiences of racism predicted more depressive symptoms in fathers nearly a year after the birth of a child controlling for symptoms at 1 month. How fathers cope with stress and common everyday experiences of racism contributed to depressive symptoms in the year following birth of a child. Interventions that target race-related stressors and decrease avoidant coping may promote better outcomes in this important and understudied population. (PsycINFO Database Record

The moderating role of relationship skills education on depressive symptoms in fathers with young children.

Drawing on couple-focused prevention intervention models that target family level processes, we used complier average causal effect (CACE) estimates to determine whether relationship skills education moderated the association between fathers' depressive symptoms assessed when their children were 15-months-old and again when their children were 36-months-old. The sample consisted of low-income Hispanic American, European American, and African American fathers (N = 2,540) from the Building Strong Families Study. Fathers from 8 sites across the United States were randomly assigned to either a treatment group who were offered relationship skills education or a control group. Paternal age and family residential stability predicted fathers' utilization of intervention services. Relationship skills education moderated the association between depressive symptoms at 15 months and depressive symptoms at 36 months. The impact of dosage of relationship skills education on depressive symptoms was inconsistent and dependent on percentage of receipt of relationship skills education classes. Data are interpreted in the context of the efficacy of intervention programs for tempering depressive symptoms in low-income fathers with young children. (PsycINFO Database Record

Fathers' depressive symptoms in the postnatal period: Prevalence and correlates in a population-based Swedish study.

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and correlates of depression in new fathers. A population-based sample of 885 Swedish fathers and their partners completed a questionnaire, including the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at three months postpartum. Correlates of depressive symptoms were analysed with univariate and multiple variable regression models. Symptoms of depression were found in 6.3% of the fathers and 12.0% of the mothers, and the point prevalence of major depression in fathers was 1.3%. The strongest correlates of depressive symptoms in fathers were problems in the partner relationship, a low educational level, previous depression, stressful life events and low partner support. The cross-sectional design could affect the magnitude of the results, and causal inferences cannot be made. Although the rate of depressive symptoms is lower in fathers than in mothers at three months postpartum, the associated factors are similar to those found in studies of mothers. The first visits at the child health centre could include a discussion with both parents about normal transition problems; balancing work, personal and family needs; and distress. When signs of distress or partner relationship difficulties are picked up, this should be followed up and support interventions offered.

The inter-relationship between depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms in fathers during the antenatal period

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine whether depressive symptoms predict anxiety and stress or whether anxiety and stress precede depressive symptoms in fathers during the antenatal period. Background: The findings of previous studies suggest that there is an association between paternal depression, anxiety and stress during the antenatal period. However, the temporal inter-relationship between these variables has yet to be investigated. Method: Data were collected from 150 expectant couples at approximately 18, 25 and 33 weeks’ gestation. Results: After accounting for the relative stability of depression, anxiety and stress over time, for men higher levels of anxiety earlier in pregnancy predicted higher levels of depression and stress in middle pregnancy, which predicted higher depression during late pregnancy. A similar relationship remained after partialling out the effects of partner’s depression, perceived social support and sleep quality. Further analyses also revealed significant differences in the manifestation of distress symptoms between men and women, but not between first-time and non-first-time fathers. Conclusion: Our findings indicated a possible inter-relationship between depression, anxiety and stress for men antenatally. Our findings also showed that men who reported elevated depression, anxiety and stress earlier in the antenatal period also reported elevated symptomology at later time points. Finally, the current findings revealed that antenatal paternal stress may play a key role in the development of depression and anxiety later in pregnancy. Therefore, it may be important to screen for early levels of antenatal stress in men, as well as depression and anxiety.

FATHERS’ MENTAL HEALTH AS A PROTECTIVE FACTOR IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MATERNAL AND CHILD DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS

The relationship between parental and child depressive symptoms has been found to be stronger for mothers than for fathers. Does this mean that fathers' mental health is less important in the context of child depressive symptoms? The goal of the current study is to test whether the degree of fathers' depressive symptoms moderate the relationship between mothers' and children's depressive symptoms. Our knowledge about such interaction effects between mothers' and fathers' symptoms is limited. We examined depressive symptoms in 190 children (age 7-13, 118 boys) referred to child community clinics and their parents. Mothers and fathers reported on their own and their child's depressive symptoms, whereas children only reported on their own symptoms. Structural equation modeling revealed significant interaction effects of mothers' and fathers' depressive symptoms on mother- and father-reported child depressive symptoms, while no effects were found for child reports. When fathers reported few depressive symptoms for themselves, no relationship between mothers' and children's depressive symptoms was observed. The more depressive symptoms in fathers, the stronger the relationship between mothers' and children's symptoms. Fathers' mental health may be a protective factor in the relationship between mothers' and children's depressive symptoms. Thus, researchers and practitioners would benefit from considering not only depressive symptoms in mothers, but also in fathers, when examining and working with child depressive symptoms.

Depression as a Mediator of the Association between Substance Abuse and Negative Parenting of Fathers

Objective: The role of substance abuse (SA) and depression on paternal parenting has recently gained attention in the research literature. Both SA and depression have been associated with negative parenting in fathers, but studies to date have not examined the mediating role that depression may play in the association of SA and fathering. Methods: SA, depression, and parenting data were reported by 87 fathers presenting for SA evaluation. Bootstrap mediation modeling was conducted to determine the role of depression on the association between SA and negative parenting. Results: Depression is a significant mediator of the relationship between the severity of fathers’ drug use and hostile-aggressive parenting behaviors. Fathers who had concerns about parenting or wanted help to improve the parent–child relationship had significantly higher symptoms of depression. Conclusions: Depressive symptoms in fathers entering SA treatment have implications for both the severity of drug abuse and negative parenting behaviors.

Working-Class Jobs and New Parents' Mental Health

Little research has explored linkages between work conditions and mental health in working-class employed parents. The current study aims to address this gap, employing hierarchical linear modeling techniques to examine how levels of and changes in job autonomy, job urgency, supervisor support, and coworker support predicted parents' depressive symptoms in a sample of 113 dual-earner couples interviewed five times across the transition to parenthood. Increases in job autonomy and decreases in job urgency predicted fewer depressive symptoms in fathers at 1 year postpartum. For mothers, coworker support predicted fewer depressive symptoms, and supervisor support mitigated the negative effects of job urgency on depressive symptoms. Higher work hours coupled with low job urgency predicted declines in mothers' depressive symptoms across the first year of parenthood. Our findings suggest that interventions that lead to greater autonomy, less job urgency, and more supportive work relations may enhance employee well-being among working-class families.

S46-01 The impact of paternal depression in infancy: A mechanism for the intergenerational transmission of risk

The adverse influence of parental psychopathology on child development has been the focus of intense research in recent years, yet we are only beginning to understand the factors that explain this intergenerational transmission. Depressive symptoms in fathers have received relatively little attention when compared to research on the impact of maternal depression on children's emotional and behavioural problems. Recent evidence suggests that paternal depressive symptoms in the postnatal period are associated with an increased risk of toddler behaviour problems, which persist in clinical significance into childhood. This research examines a model of ‘social-environmental transmission’ of paternal psychopathology. We compared patterns of parent-infant interactions among families with depressed and non-depressed fathers to address the following question: Are the early interactions of depressed fathers characterised by maladaptive affect, behaviour and cognitions? This study is part of an on-going longitudinal investigation, The Oxford Fathers Project (OFP) of families who are followed when infants are 3 months to 2 years of age. Paternal behaviours, including verbal comments and interactive behaviour were examined during free-play with their 3-month old infants. Father's behaviour was coded from Fiori-Cowley and Murray's (1996) Global Rating Scale and verbal transcripts were examined for cognitive and mentalizing statements.Preliminary results suggest a higher proportion of infant directed negativity, in the verbal content of depressed fathers. Further analysis will be conducted and presented at the meeting. Discussion emphasises the importance of dysfunctional communication patterns in father-infant interactions that provide important clinical hypotheses as well as targets for identification and early intervention.

Parental Depression and Child Externalizing and Internalizing Symptoms: Unique Effects of Fathers’ Symptoms and Perceived Conflict as a Mediator

Although a developing body of literature suggests that depressive symptoms in fathers are related to child psychopathology, little evidence suggests that paternal depression plays a unique role in children’s symptoms. We used a high-risk design involving children of mothers with and without histories of depression to test the unique mediating role of father–child conflict in the relations between fathers’ depressive symptoms and child externalizing and internalizing symptoms. In all regression analyses, mothers’ history of depression and current depressive symptoms were controlled. Depressive symptoms in fathers were associated with child externalizing and internalizing symptoms, and father–child conflict. Father–child conflict mediated relations between fathers’ depressive symptoms and child externalizing symptoms above and beyond the effects of maternal depression history and depressive symptoms. The results suggest that negative interpersonal consequences of parental depression on child psychopathology may not be limited to mothers.

Comparisons of different instruments to measure blues and to predict depressive symptoms 2 months postpartum: a study of new mothers and fathers

The aim of the study was to investigate 'blues' during the first week postpartum in new mothers and fathers and to compare different instruments for measuring blues, as well as their ability to predict depressive symptoms at 2 months. Parents were informed while at the maternity clinic about the study and asked to independently answer questions for 5 days during the first week on the Blues Questionnaire, a VAS questionnaire and on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at 1 week and 2 months. Of the parents who initially agreed to participate in the study 171 (38%) of the mothers and 133 (31%) of the fathers returned all questionnaires completely filled-out after the first week, and of these, 155 mothers and 113 fathers also completed the EPDS at 2 months. The results showed that mothers experienced more blues than fathers, and that mothers' blues peaked on day 3, while fathers' peaked on day 1 after the delivery-day. The Blues Questionnaire and the VAS subscale 'depressed mood' identified more women as having blues (64% and 52%, respectively) during the first week over the EPDS (24%), but the EPDS identified women with the highest scores on the Blues Questionnaire. At 2 months, 19 (12%) of the mothers, and one father scored 10 or more on the EPDS. All these women, except for one, had experienced severe blues according to the Blues Questionnaire, the first week. Regression analyses showed that the Blues Questionnaire subscale 'depression' was the best predictor for a high EPDS score at 2 months in mothers, while the subscales 'primary blues', 'hypersensitivity' and 'despondency' best predicted depressive symptoms in fathers. Our results indicate that the EPDS could be a valuable instrument to measure 'blues', as EPDS seemed to indicate women with the highest risk for depressive symptoms.