Rates of depression and stress-related disorders rise among new fathers a year after birth, even though they have fewer mental health diagnoses during pregnancy and the first few months after birth. The corresponding study was published in JAMA Network Open.
“The transition to fatherhood often involves both positive experiences and a range of new stresses. Many cherish the intimate moments with their child, whilst at the same time the relationship with their partner may be affected and sleep quality may deteriorate, which can contribute to an increased risk of mental ill-health,” said co-first author of the paper, Jing Zhou, PhD student at the Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, in a press release.
For the study, researchers examined national register data for close to 1.1 million fathers in Sweden between 2003 and 2021. They compared diagnoses of psychiatric disorders during pregnancy and a year after childbirth with a year before pregnancy. The study included just over 1.9 million births, and men were an average of 33.8 years old.
Ultimately, the researchers found that incidence of any psychiatric diagnoses declined during pregnancy and early post-partum compared to prior conception but returned to preconception levels later on. This pattern was also seen for rates of anxiety, alcohol use, and drug use disorders.
They found, however, that rates of depression and stress-related disorders increased by over 30% towards the end of the first postpartum year. At the same time, rates of tobacco use disorder, attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorder, and psychosis remained relatively stable before, during, and after pregnancy.
"By identifying periods of increased vulnerability, healthcare providers and other stakeholders can more easily offer support. Postnatal depression is often discussed for new mothers, but fathers' well-being is also important, both for themselves and for the whole family,” said Zhou.
Sources: Science Daily, JAMA Network Open
