13.3% of expectant fathers were affected in a study
Moms-to-be suffering from “baby blues” has been widely chronicled, but don’t discount the potential depression risks of dad, according to a study published Tuesday in the American Journal of Men’s Health.
Researchers from the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center surveyed 62 men in Quebec during their partner’s third trimester, asking them to rank their mood, physical activity, sleep quality, financial stress, and marital dynamics over the six months prior to birth. The result: 13.3% of dads reported symptoms of depression.
“The mental health of men remains a neglected area of research and one that is not adequately addressed during the transition to parenthood,” Dr. Deborah Da Costa, associate professor of medicine at McGill University and lead author, said.
What’s more, the researchers believe that postpartum depression might be something fathers experience as well, and are going to look into that next. “These are important signals because some of these factors may worsen in postpartum,” Dr. Da Costa said, suggesting expectant fathers get screened and take preventive measures for depression much like their partners.