Paternal Depression: How Depressed Fathers Impact Children

By Kira Stein, MD & Erin Yates, Bsc

The impact of prenatal and maternal depression on both mother and child has been well documented, with depressed mothers highly encouraged to seek treatment for their conditions. What many people don’t realize, however, is that depression on the part of a father, otherwise known as paternal depression, can be just as harmful and damaging. That’s why it’s critical for a father suffering from paternal depression to attain treatment not only for himself, but also for the health and wellbeing of his entire family.

Most people know about the link between mothers who are depressed or are suffering from postpartum depression and how it impacts their offspring. A few years ago, this issue reached popular culture when actress Brooke Shields spoke out about the struggles she had with postpartum depression and highlighted the importance of getting treatment. Research has clearly shown that early childhood interactions with mothers who suffer from ongoing mental issues increase the likelihood that their children will develop their own mental disorders down the line.

Only recently have researchers begun to look extensively into the negative effects of paternal depression, as well, and how depressed fathers can impact their children’s development. This makes sense, as about 9 percent of males are known to suffer from some sort of major depressive disorder. Thus, we must examine the experiences these males have when it comes to raising children.

Paternal depression beyond the newborn years

Although new fathers can suffer from symptoms of postpartum depression, they tend to interact less with their newborn babies than mothers. Therefore, paternal depression is more prominent when children are a little older, such as when they are considered toddlers and beyond.

Recently, a large-scale study was conducted on children aged 5-17 who had depressed fathers. The study found that significant emotional and behavioral difficulties were more likely in children when one or both parents also suffered from depression. And, while many people may assume that paternal depression would tend to be much less harmful to a child than maternal depression, the study also showed that it was only 4 percent less likely for a child to suffer from behavioral issues if only his or her father had depression. This demonstrates just how serious paternal depression can really be, and that it should be considered just as troublesome as depression in mothers.

Paternal depression and early development

In a different study that looked at younger children aged nine to 24 months, those with depressed fathers showed an increased risk for delayed speech and language skills, also displaying behavioral problems and defiance with authority figures. In addition, these children who had depressed fathers also showed more problems with peer-related issues and had trouble making and keeping friends.

These studies showcase what many researchers suspected—paternal depression can have a major negative impact on children. That’s why it is so critical for men suffering from depressive symptoms to seek treatment right way in order to avoid some of these negative effects on their children, which can last their entire lives.

If you feel that you may need treatment for paternal depression or depression in general, West Coast TMS Institute in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles is available to help you. Contact us if you feel you would like to look into depression treatment, set up a psychiatric consultation and explore your options further.

References:

Dave, S., et al. Associations between paternal depression and behaviour problems in children of 4-6 years. Eur Child Adolesc Paychiatry. 2008;7(5):306-315.

Dave, S., et al. Major paternal depression and child consultation for developmental and behavioural problems. Br J Gen Pract. 2009;59(560):180-185.

Gross, HE., et al. Reciprocal models of child behavior and depressive symptoms in mothers and fathers in a sample of children at risk for early conduct problems. J Fam Psychol. 2008;22(5):742-751.

Paulson, J., et al. Early parental depression and child language development. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2009;50(3):254-262.

Weitzman, M., et al. Paternal depressive symptoms and child behavioral or emotional problems in the united states. Pediatrics. 2011;0000.

**If you liked learning more about paternal depression, click on our next blog - Depression Treatment: Your Heart and Mind Depends on It.