Risk factors for paternal perinatal depression and anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCUAbstract
This article aims to identify the risk factors associated with paternal perinatal depression and anxiety. Studies published between January 1950 and December 2017 that report paternal depression and anxiety in the perinatal period were obtained from 5 different databases. In total, 84 studies were included in the systematic review, and 31,310 participants from 45 studies were included in the final meta-analysis. Risk factors obtained were classified based on the frequency of distribution of factors. Maternal depression is an important risk factor for fathers in the postnatal period (odds ratio [OR] = 3.34, 95% confidence interval [CI; 2.51, 4.46]). Marital distress was also linked to a twofold increase in the likelihood of paternal depression in the postnatal period (OR = 2.16, 95% CI [1.47, 3.19]). Parenting stress as a risk factor was strongly and significantly associated with paternal anxiety in perinatal period (OR = 14.38, 95% CI [7.39, 27.97]). The findings suggest that maternal depression, marital distress, and parental stress are important risk factors for fathers’ mental health in the perinatal period. The current meta-analysis also identifies gender role stress, domestic violence, and mismatched expectancies from pregnancy and childbirth as the risk factors that are unique to fathers only in the perinatal period. Future intervention programs should screen and target fathers with no previous children, or a depressed partner, and aim to enhance relationship satisfaction.
Journal
Psychology of Men & Masculinity
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Volume
21
ISBN/ISSN
1939-151X
Edition
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Issue
4
Pages Count
19
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Publisher
American Psychological Association
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EISSN
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DOI
10.1037/men0000259