Dads Are At Risk For Depression After A Baby Too!

We know that approximately 15 to 20 percent of new mothers experience depression in the first year after giving birth and also that maternal depression can negatively affect both a children’s cognitive and behavioral development. A new study out of Northwestern University shows that becoming a father increases a man’s risk of experiencing anxiety and depression as well and that too can impact a child’s development.

“It’s not just new moms who need to be screened for depression, dads are at risk, too,” said Dr. Craig Garfield, lead author of the new study. “Parental depression has a detrimental effect on kids, especially during those first key years of parent-infant attachment. We need to do a better job of helping young dads transition through that time period.”

The study was published in April’s edition of Pediatrics, the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics and it found that depression symptoms rise about 68% for fathers (that live with their children) between the time a baby is born until the child is 5 years old.

Some symptoms of paternal depression symptoms are different from women’s and often men don’t acknowledge their feelings of sadness, hopelessness and/ or guilt. They may also feel in conflict between how they think a man should be and feel and how they are actually feeling.

Below is a list of possible symptoms but remember the severity and number of symptoms varies across individuals.

Symptoms of Paternal Depression

• Frustration or irritability
• Getting stressed easily
• Feeling discouraged
• Increases in complaints about physical problems such as headaches, digestion problems or pain
• Problems with concentration
• Fatigue
• Lack of motivation
• Loss of interest in work, hobbies and sex
• Isolation from family and friends
• Working constantly
• Increased anger and conflict with others
• Increased use of alcohol or other drugs
• Misuse of prescription medication
• Violent behavior
• Impulsiveness and taking risks, like reckless driving and extramarital sex
• Thoughts of suicide

The most important thing to remember is that paternal depression is very treatable and although it is a serious condition, you can recover.