A new study in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine has revealed some insights into the impacts of paternal depression on children, even years later. The study followed over 1,400 fathers who were screened for depression when their kids were five years old. Four years later, those kids’ teachers reported on their behavior and temperament in school.
What did the study reveal?
The results of the study showed a strong relationship between childhood exposure to paternal depression and behavior challenges in school. As Kristine Schmitz, co-author of the study, explained to Newsweek, “Children of fathers who were depressed around the time the child entered school were more likely to display behavioral challenges such as hyperactivity, oppositional behavior and ADHD symptoms.”
As children enter elementary school, they experience so many unique transitions and social challenges that they’re often encountering for the first time. Navigating the school transition with a parent battling depression can make it difficult for kids to feel like they have a solid home base to decompress after their challenging first days in school. These children may struggle to build relationships with their peers and teachers, develop poor self-esteem, and experience learning and emotional regulation challenges.
Why are the effects of paternal depression so long-lasting?
The fact that these behavioral and social challenges were observed years after the fathers in the study experienced depression indicates that mental health struggles in the family during formative years of childhood can have lasting impacts. This shows that paternal mental health matters long after infancy.
Depression can cause parents to become withdrawn, hampering a father’s ability to provide emotional support and positive interaction with his kids. The impacts of that lack of support show that paternal mental health is just as important to a child’s development as maternal mental health.
How can dads protect their mental health?
The researchers involved with the study recommend that healthcare providers offer depression screenings for dads throughout their kids’ early childhood, in addition to the screening already recommended for mothers. Dads are encouraged to request these screenings at family medicine or pediatric check-ups.
Here are some other resources that can help support paternal mental health—
