In Case You Haven't Heard…

Abstract

Fathers' mental distress is slightly associated with subpar child development, including cognitive, social-emotional, language and physical development, according to a study published in JAMA Pediatrics, CNN Health reported June 16. The findings were especially true in the perinatal period, which spans from conception to two years postpartum. During this time, the developing fetus, then infant and then toddler is particularly sensitive to any mental distress that parents, especially the mother, experience, according to the study. “Men are at risk of increased mental distress during the transition to fatherhood, with prevalence rates among men during the perinatal period as high as 8% for clinical depression, 11% for anxiety and 6% to 9% for elevated stress,” the authors wrote in the study. “This represents the most comprehensive global review to date on the association between fathers' perinatal mental health and offspring development,” said Dr. Delyse Hutchinson, senior author of the study and associate professor in the SEED Lifespan Research Centre at Deakin University in Australia, via email.