New research from SEED Lifespan has been published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, bringing worldwide media interest and driving important public discussion. The new systematic review from the Lifecourse Sciences Theme, within SEED Lifespan, has identified the impact a father’s mental health may have on his children, potentially affecting developmental outcomes from birth until the child’s early teens.
The global study by Deakin University, led by Associate Professor Delyse Hutchinson and Dr Genevieve Le Bas, looked at the findings from 84 longitudinal studies which track people over long periods of time, including from Australia, Europe, Asia and North America. The review included any study that measured an association between perinatal depression, anxiety or stress in fathers and child development. These included social and emotional skills, thinking and problem-solving, language, physical development and motor skills.
The study found that mental distress in fathers, both during pregnancy and after birth, was associated with poorer outcomes in children’s social, emotional, cognitive, language and physical development. Research lead and clinical psychologist, Dr Genevieve Le Bas, said the findings show the importance of supporting dads’ mental health and wellbeing, especially throughout the first two years of their child’s life.
‘We know that new dads, like mums, are at risk of increased psychological distress before and after birth,’ Dr Le Bas said. ‘Welcoming a new baby is a major life transition for parents and approximately one in ten dads experience clinical levels of depression, anxiety, and/or stress. But, until now, research has largely focused on maternal mental health and child development, with less attention given to how a father’s mental state impacts developmental outcomes.’
‘By analysing data across developmental domains, we found that mental distress in fathers may be linked to how a child interacts with others, understands feelings, conceptualises the world, and communicates, as well as their physical health outcomes, such as body weight, sleep and eating patterns.’
An editorial published alongside these results in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) suggests the need for Australia to follow the example of the US and UK where routine screening for new fathers is starting to be implemented.
‘Through contact with GPs and health care providers at antenatal and postpartum clinics, fathers could be assessed for mental and physical health issues at multiple points throughout pregnancy and post-birth,’ Associate Professor Hutchinsons said. ‘During these routine appointments, men could be given evidence-based health and referral information specific to dads. Referral pathways could include mental health counselling and peer support groups. By prioritising the mental health of new dads, we may foster healthier family dynamics as well as promote better developmental outcomes for children.’
Deakin has also supported the development of a mindfulness-based cognitive behaviour therapy mobile app intervention targeting mental distress in fathers. The Rover app, developed by Dr. Samantha Teague, now at James Cook University, has been demonstrated in a randomised control trial to improve symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress in fathers during the perinatal period. An android version of the app is available to download here. Digital mental health interventions may play a key role in supporting fathers and improving outcomes for families.
Read the authors’ article on The Conversation or read the academic paper.
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