Children who are exposed to paternal depression at the time they enter kindergarten are more likely to have teacher-reported behavioral issues as well as poor social skills at the age of nine.
Research published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that if the paternal depression remained undiagnosed or unaddressed, there can be negative behavioral and social impacts on children for years.
“Our study found that children whose fathers were experiencing depression when the child started school were more likely to display oppositional behavior, hyperactivity, and symptoms of ADHD. They also tended to have poorer social interactions than children whose fathers were not depressed during that time,” Kristine Schmitz, co author of the study and an assistant professor of pediatrics at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS) told Theravive.
“Most research on parental mental health has focused on mothers, especially in the early postpartum period. Fathers have largely been left out of the conversation. We wanted to explore what happens later—when a child enters school—and how a father’s mental health during that time might shape their child’s behavior. This is a crucial stage, as behaviors developed in preadolescence can influence academic and social outcomes later in life.”
In undertaking their research, Schmitz and her colleagues examined data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study. The study tracks changes in the lives of participants who were randomly sampled from birth in 20 large US cities between the period of 1998 and 2000.
The researchers examined two key points as part of their assessment: when the children were five years of age their fathers were screened for depressive symptoms and when the children were nine, their teachers completed a survey that included an assessment of the child’s behavior in the classroom.
They compared data from 1422 fathers. They found that for children who had fathers who reported depression symptoms like feeling blue or sad when the children were five would later be significantly more likely to exhibit defiance, anger or restlessness by age nine.
They were also more likely to have lower self esteem and lower levels of cooperation.
Schmitz says there are several potential reasons this could occur. Depression can cause difficulties with parenting, as well as less emotional support for the child. Depression can also cause stress or conflict within the home.
She argues the mental health of fathers is often unnoticed, despite being important for the wellbeing of the whole family unit.
“Fathers’ mental health has been overlooked for far too long, even though it plays a critical role in the well-being of the entire family. Fathers matter. When dads are emotionally healthy, they’re more likely to engage in positive parenting that supports a child’s emotional and behavioral development. A father’s well-being can be a protective factor—not just for the child, but for the entire household,” she said.
The authors note that there has been no other population based study in the US that found such a definitive link between childhood behavior in school and paternal depression.
They argue their research highlights the importance of interventions to better support fathers and in turn their children.
“We need to build mental health supports that are designed with fathers in mind. That starts by asking dads what they need and listening to their experiences. Pediatricians and other child health clinicians are in a unique position to help—they see families regularly and can offer screening, education, and referrals when needed,” Schmitz said.
“Work is needed to develop father-focused interventions. Next steps are to partner with fathers to co-create mental health interventions that reflect their voices and values. We need to design programs that meet their needs and evaluate how those supports impact not only dads, but also their children and families as a whole. Supporting fathers isn’t just good for dads—it’s good for kids, for families, and for communities. It’s time we bring fathers fully into the conversation about family health.”
Elizabeth Pratt is a medical journalist and producer. Her work has appeared on Healthline, The Huffington Post, Fox News, The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, The Sydney Morning Herald, News.com.au, Escape, The Cusp and Skyscanner. You can read more of her articles here. Or learn more about Elizabeth and contact her via her LinkedIn and Twitter profiles.
