Paternal perinatal mental health: evidence review

This evidence review explores paternal perinatal mental health, including the factors affecting paternal perinatal mental health, those most likely to be affected, sources of support used by men during the perinatal period and barriers which might impede men accessing support.


References

Addis, Michael E., and James R. Mahalik. (2003) "Men, masculinity, and the contexts of help seeking."American psychologist 58.1: 5-14

Areias, M.E.G., Kumar, R., Barros, H. and Figueiredo, E., (1996). Correlates of postnatal depression in mothers and fathers. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 169(1), pp.36-41.

Åsenhed, L., Kilstam, J., Alehagen, S. and Baggens, C., (2014). Becoming a father is an emotional roller coaster–an analysis of first‐time fathers′ blogs.Journal of clinical nursing,23(9-10), pp.1309-1317.

Ayano, G.; Lin, A.; Betts, K.; Tait, R.; Dachew, B.A.; Alati, R. (2021) Risk of conduct and oppositional defiant disorder symptoms in offspring of parents with mental health problems: Findings from the Raine Study. J. Psychiatr. Res. 138, 53–59.

Baldwin S, Malone M, Sandall J, Bick D. (2019) A qualitative exploratory study of UK first-time fathers' experiences, mental health, and wellbeing needs during their transition to fatherhood. BMJ Open. 9:e030792. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-030792

Baldwin, S., Malone, M., Murrells, T., Sandall, J. and Bick, D., (2021). New Dad Study (NEST): A mixed-methods feasibility study of an intervention to improve men’s mental health and wellbeing during their transition to fatherhood.

Baldwin, S., Malone, M., Sandall, J., & Bick, D. (2018). Mental health and wellbeing during the transition to fatherhood: a systematic review of first time fathers' experiences. JBI Database System Rev Implement Rep, 16(11), 2118-2191. https://doi.org/10.11124/jbisrir-2017-003773

Bauer,A.,Parsonage,M.,Knapp,M.,Lemmi,V., &Adelaja,B.(2014).The costs of perinatal mental health problems Centre for Mental Health: London

Beach, S.R., Katz, J., Kim, S. and Brody, G.H., (2003). Prospective effects of marital satisfaction on depressive symptoms in established marriages: A dyadic model. Journal of social and personal relationships, 20(3), pp.355-371.

Benoit, C., & Magnus, S. (2017). “Depends on the Father” Defining Problematic Paternal Substance Use During Pregnancy and Early Parenthood. The Canadian Journal of Sociology / Cahiers canadiens de sociologie, 42(4), 379-402. https://www.jstor.org/stable/90018218

Berg AR, Ahmed AH. (2016) Paternal perinatal depression: making a case for routine screening. Nurse Pract. 41(10):1–5.

Berger J, Addis M, Green J, Mackowiak C, Goldberg V. (2013) Men’s reactions to mental health labels, forms of help-seeking, and sources of help-seeking advice.Psychol Men Masculinity.14(4):433–443. doi:10.1037/a0030175

Bergström M. (2013). Depressive symptoms in new first-time fathers: associations with age, sociodemographic characteristics, and antenatal psychological well-being. Birth (Berkeley, Calif.), 40(1), 32–38. https://doi.org/10.1111/birt.12026

Bernier, A., Bélanger, M.È., Bordeleau, S. and Carrier, J., (2013). Mothers, fathers, and toddlers: Parental psychosocial functioning as a context for young children’s sleep.Developmental psychology,49(7), p.1375.

Bronte-Tinkew, J., Moore, K. A., Matthews, G., & Carrano, J. (2007). Symptoms of major depression in a sample of fathers of infants: Sociodemographic correlates and links to father involvement.Journal of family Issues,28(1), 61-99.

Buist, A., Morse, C.A. and Durkin, S., (2003). Men's adjustment to fatherhood: implications for obstetric health care.Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing,32(2), pp.172-180.

Buultjens, M., Murphy, G., Robinson, P., & Milgrom, J. (2013). The perinatal period: A literature review from the biopsychosocial perspective. Clinical Nursing Studies, 1(3), 19-31. https://doi.org/10.5430/cns.v1n3p19

Cameron, E.E., Sedov, I.D. and Tomfohr-Madsen, L.M., (2016). Prevalence of paternal depression in pregnancy and the postpartum: an updated meta-analysis.Journal of affective disorders,206, pp.189-203.

Canário, C., & Figueiredo, B. (2017). Anxiety and depressive symptoms in women and men from early pregnancy to 30 months postpartum. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 35(5), 431-449. https://doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2017.1368464

Carlberg, M., Edhborg, M. and Lindberg, L., (2018). Paternal perinatal depression assessed by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the Gotland Male Depression Scale: Prevalence and possible risk factors.American journal of men's health,12(4), pp.720-729.

Carlson, J., Edleson, J. L., & Kimball, E. (2014). First-time fathers’ experiences of and desires for formal support: A multiple lens perspective. Fathering, 12(3), 242–261

Castle H, Slade P, Barranco-Wadlow M, Rogers M.(2008) Attitudes to emotional expression, social support and postnatal adjustment in new parents.J Reprod Infant Psychol;26:180–194.

Chalmers, B.; Meyer, D. (1996) What men say about pregnancy, birth and parenthood. J. Psychosom. Obstet. Gynaecol; Darwin et al. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth (2017) 17:45 DOI 10.1186/s12884-017-1229-4

Chavis, A. T. (2022). Paternal Perinatal Depression in Modern-Day Fatherhood. Pediatrics In Review, 43(10), 539-548. https://doi.org/10.1542/pir.2021-005488

Cheng, E. R., Rifas-Shiman, S. L., Perkins, M. E., Rich-Edwards, J. W., Gillman, M. W., Wright, R., & Taveras, E. M. (2016). The influence of antenatal partner support on pregnancy outcomes. Journal of women's health, 25(7), 672-679.

Chen, J., Zhao, J., Chen, X., Zou, Z. and Ni, Z., (2023). Paternal perinatal depression: A concept analysis. Nursing Open.

Chhabra, J., Li, W., & McDermott, B. (2022). Predictive Factors for Depression and Anxiety in Men During the Perinatal Period: A Mixed Methods Study. American Journal of Men's Health, 16(1), 15579883221079489. https://doi.org/10.1177/15579883221079489

Chhabra, J., McDermott, B., & Li, W. (2020). Risk factors for paternal perinatal depression and anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychology of Men & Masculinities, 21(4), 593.

Connell, A.M. and Goodman, S.H., (2002). The association between psychopathology in fathers versus mothers and children's internalizing and externalizing behavior problems: a meta-analysis.Psychological bulletin,128(5), p.746.

Conteh, N., Gagliardi, J., McGahee, S., Molina, R., Clark, C. T., & Clare, C. A. (2022, Jul-Aug 01). Medical Mistrust in Perinatal Mental Health. Harv Rev Psychiatry, 30(4), 238-247. https://doi.org/10.1097/hrp.0000000000000345

Cooklin, A. R., Giallo, R., Strazdins, L., Martin, A., Leach, L. S., & Nicholson, J. M. (2015), What matters for working fathers? Job characteristics, work-family conflict and enrichment, and fathers' postpartum mental health in an Australian cohort. Social Science & Medicine, 146, 214-222. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.09.028

Craig F. Garfield,Greg Duncan,Joshua Rutsohn,Thomas W. McDade,Emma K. Adam,Rebekah Levine Coley,P. Lindsay Chase-Lansdale; (2014) A Longitudinal Study of Paternal Mental Health During Transition to Fatherhood as Young Adults.PediatricS; 133 (5): 836–843. 10.1542/peds.2013-3262

Cuijpers, P., Franco, P., Ciharova, M., Miguel, C., Segre, L., Quero, S., & Karyotaki, E. (2021). Psychological treatment of perinatal depression: a meta-analysis. Psychological Medicine, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291721004529

Da Costa, D., Danieli, C., Abrahamowicz, M., Dasgupta, K., Sewitch, M., Lowensteyn, I. and Zelkowitz, P., (2019). A prospective study of postnatal depressive symptoms and associated risk factors in first-time fathers.Journal of affective disorders,249, pp.371-377.

Da Costa, D., Zelkowitz, P., Letourneau, N., Howlett, A., Dennis, C.-L., Russell, B., Grover, S., Lowensteyn, I., Chan, P., & Khalifé, S. (2017). HealthyDads.ca: What Do Men Want in a Website Designed to Promote Emotional Wellness and Healthy Behaviors During the Transition to Parenthood?. J Med Internet Res, 19(10), e325. https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.7415

Daniels, E., Arden-Close, E., & Mayers, A. (2020). Be quiet and man up: a qualitative questionnaire study into fathers who witnessed their Partner’s birth trauma. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 20(1), 236. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-02902-2

Darwin, Z., Domoney, J., Iles, J., Bristow, F., Siew, J., & Sethna, V. (2021). Assessing the mental health of fathers, other co-parents, and Partners in the Perinatal Period: mixed methods evidence synthesis. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 1260.

Darwin, Z., Galdas, P., Hinchliff, S., Littlewood, E., McMillan, D., McGowan, L., Gilbody, S., on behalf of the, Born & Bred in Yorkshire (BaBY). (2017). Fathers’ views and experiences of their own mental health during pregnancy and the first postnatal year: a qualitative interview study of men participating in the UK Born and Bred in Yorkshire (BaBY) cohort. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 17(1), 45. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-017-1229-4

Davey, S. J., Dziurawiec, S., & O’Brien-Malone, A. (2006). Men’s voices: postnatal depression from the perspective of male partners.Qualitative health research,16(2), 206-220.

Davenport, C., J. & Swami, V. (2023). Getting help as a depressed dad: a lived experience narrative of paternal postnatal depression, with considerations for healthcare practice., J Psychirati Ment Health Nurs, 30(1). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35757849/

Dayton, C. J., Malone, J. C., & Brown, S. (2020). Pathways to Parenting: The Emotional Journeys of Fathers as They Prepare to Parent a New Infant. In H. E. Fitzgerald, K. von Klitzing, N. J. Cabrera, J. Scarano de Mendonça, & T. Skjøthaug (Eds.), Handbook of Fathers and Child Development: Prenatal to Preschool (pp. 173-194). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-51027-5_12

Deave T, Johnson D. (2008) The transition to parenthood: what does it mean forfathers?. J Adv Nurs.; 63; 6: 626-633. 18808584. 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2008.04748.x. 18808584

Deave, T., Johnson, D., & Ingram, J. (2008). Transition to parenthood: the needs of parents in pregnancy and early parenthood.BMC pregnancy and childbirth,8, 1-11.

Dekel S, Ein-Dor T, Berman Z, Barsoumian IS, Agarwal S, Pitman RK. (2019) Delivery mode is associated with maternal mental health following childbirth. Arch Womens Ment Health; 22(6):817-824. doi: 10.1007/s00737-019-00968-2. Epub 2019 Apr 30. PMID: 31041603; PMCID: PMC6821585

Domoney, J., & Trevillion, K. (2021). Breaking the cycle of intergenerational abuse: A qualitative interview study of men participating in a perinatal program to reduce violence. Infant Mental Health Journal, 42(2), 206-221. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/imhj.21886

Domoney, J., Trevillion, K., & Challacombe, F. L. (2020). Developing an intervention for paternal perinatal depression: an international Delphi study. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, 2.

Don, B. P., Chong, A., Biehle, S. N., Gordon, A., & Mickelson, K. D. (2014). Anxiety across the transition to parenthood: Change trajectories among low-risk parents.Anxiety, Stress, & Coping,27(6), 633-649.

Edelstein, R. S., Wardecker, B. M., Chopik, W. J., Moors, A. C., Shipman, E. L., & Lin, N. J. (2015). Prenatal hormones in first-time expectant parents: Longitudinal changes and within-couple correlations. American Journal of Human Biology, 27(3), 317-325. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.22670

Edhborg M, Carlberg M, Simon F, Lindberg L. (2016) Waiting for Better Times”: Experiences in the first postpartum year by Swedish fathers with depressive symptoms.Am J Mens Health; 10 5:428–439

Emily E. Cameron, Ivan D. Sedov, Lianne M. Tomfohr-Madsen, (2016) Prevalence of paternal depression in pregnancy and the postpartum: An updated meta-analysis, Journal of Affective Disorders, Volume 206, Pages 189-203, ISSN 0165-0327, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2016.07.044.

Epifanio, M. S., Genna, V., De Luca, C., Roccella, M., & La Grutta, S. (2015). Paternal and maternal transition to parenthood: The risk of postpartum depression and parenting stress.Pediatric reports,7(2), 5872.

Eriksson, C., Westman, G., & Hamberg, K. (2005). Experiential factors associated with childbirth-related fear in Swedish women and men: a population based study. Journal of psychosomatic obstetrics and gynaecology, 26(1), 63–72. https://doi.org/10.1080/01674820400023275

Eriksson, H., & Salzmann‐Erikson, M. (2013). Supporting a caring fatherhood in cyberspace–an analysis of communication about caring within an online forum for fathers. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 27(1), 63-69.

Etheridge, J.; Slade, P.P. (2017) “Nothing’s actually happened to me.”: The experiences of fathers who found childbirth traumatic. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2017, 17, 1–15

F.N.S. (2019). 2019 Health and Wellbeing Survey Results. https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/fathersnetwork/pages/4239/attachments/original/1561655107/FNS_Survey_2019_Findings_formatted.pdf?1561655107

Farrimond, H. (2012). Beyond the caveman: Rethinking masculinity in relation to men’s help-seeking. Health:, 16(2), 208-225.

Felder, J. N., Banchefsky, S., Park, B., & Dimidjian, S. (2017). Public attitudes and feelings of warmth toward women and men experiencing depression during the perinatal period. Psychiatric Services, 68(8), 796-802.

Ferketich, S.L. and Mercer, R.T., (1995). Predictors of role competence for experienced and inexperienced fathers.Nursing research,44(2), pp.89-95.

Field, T. (2018). Paternal prenatal, perinatal and postpartum depression: a narrative review. Journal of Anxiety & Depression, 1(1), 1-16.

Field, Tiffany, Miguel Diego, John Dieter, Maria Hernandez-Reif, Saul Schanberg, Cynthia Kuhn, Regina Yando, and Debra Bendell. (2004) "Prenatal depression effects on the fetus and the newborn." Infant Behavior and Development 27, no. 2: 216-229.

Finnbogadottir H, Svalenius EC, Persson EK. (2003)Expectant first-time fathers’ experiences of pregnancy.Midwifery;192:96–105.

Fisher ML, Sutcliffe P, Southern C, Grove AL, Tan BK. (2022) The Effectiveness of Interventions for the Prevention or Treatment of Paternal Perinatal Anxiety: A Systematic Review.Journal of Clinical Medicine.; 11(22):6617. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11226617

Fisher SD, Kopelman R, O'Hara MW. Partner report of paternal depression using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale-Partner. (2012) Arch WomensMentalHealth.; 15: 283-288. 10.1007/s00737-012-0282-2;

Fisher, S. D., Cobo, J., Figueiredo, B., Fletcher, R., Garfield, C. F., Hanley, J., Ramchandani, P., & Singley, D. B. (2021). Expanding the international conversation with fathers’ mental health: toward an era of inclusion in perinatal research and practice. Archives of Women's Mental Health, 24(5), 841-848. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-021-01171-y

Fletcher, R. J., Feeman, E., Garfield, C., & Vimpani, G. (2011). The effects of early paternal depression on children's development. Medical Journal of Australia, 195(11-12), 685-689.

Fletcher, R., Garfield, C. F., & Matthey, S. (2015). Fathers’ Perinatal Mental Health. In J. Milgrom & A. W. Gemmill (Eds.), Identifying Perinatal Depression and Anxiety (pp. 165-176). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118509722.ch10

Fletcher, R., Kay-Lambkin, F., May, C., Oldmeadow, C., Attia, J., & Leigh, L. (2017). Supporting men through their transition to fatherhood with messages delivered to their smartphones: a feasibility study of SMS4dads. BMC public health, 17(1), 953. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-017-4978-0

Fletcher, R.J., Matthey, S. and Marley, C.G., (2006). Addressing depression and anxiety among new fathers.Medical Journal of Australia,185(8), pp.461-463.

Forsyth, C., Skouteris, H., Wertheim, E.H., Paxton, S.J., Milgrom, J., (2011). Men’s emotional responses to their partner’s pregnancy and their views on support and information received. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 51, 53-56

Franco, P., Olhaberry, M., Muzard, A., Lara, M. A., & Cuijpers, P. (2023). The Potential of Internet-Based Psychological Interventions for Perinatal Depression Prevention and Treatment. In V. Martínez & C. Miranda-Castillo (Eds.), Prevention and Early Treatment of Depression Through the Life Course (pp. 141-165). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-13029-8_8

Gallaher, K. G. H., Slyepchenko, A., Frey, B. N., Urstad, K., & Dørheim, S. K. (2018). The Role of Circadian Rhythms in Postpartum Sleep and Mood. Sleep Med Clin, 13(3), 359-374. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsmc.2018.04.006

Galdas, P. M., Cheater, F., & Marshall, P. (2005). Men and health help‐seeking behaviour: literature review. Journal of advanced nursing, 49(6), 616-623.

Garthus-Niegel, S., Staudt, A., Kinser, P., Haga, S. M., Drozd, F., & Baumann, S. (2020). Predictors and Changes in Paternal Perinatal Depression Profiles-Insights From the DREAM Study. Frontiers in psychiatry, 11, 563761. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.563761

Gawlik, S., Müller, M., Hoffmann, L., Dienes, A., Wallwiener, M., Sohn, C., Schlehe, B., & Reck, C. (2014). Prevalence of paternal perinatal depressiveness and its link to partnership satisfaction and birth concerns. Archives of Women's Mental Health, 17(1), 49-56.

Genesoni, L. and Tallandini, M.A., (2009). Men's psychological transition to fatherhood: an analysis of the literature, 1989–2008.Birth,36(4), pp.305-318.

Gervais, C., de Montigny, F., Lacharité, C. and St-Arneault, K., (2016). Where fathers fit in Quebec’s perinatal health care services system and what they need.Psychology of Men & Masculinity,17(2), p.126.

Gettler, L. T., & Oka, R. C. (2016). Are testosterone levels and depression risk linked based on partnering and parenting? Evidence from a large population-representative study of US men and women. Social Science & Medicine, 163, 157-167.

Ghaleiha, A., Barber, C., Tamatea, A. J., & Bird, A. (2022). Fathers’ help seeking behavior and attitudes during their transition to parenthood. Infant Mental Health Journal, 43(5), 756-768. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/imhj.22008

Giallo, R., D'Esposito, F., Cooklin, A., Mensah, F., Lucas, N., Wade, C., & Nicholson, J. M. (2013). Psychosocial risk factors associated with fathers' mental health in the postnatal period: results from a population-based study. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol, 48(4), 563-573. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-012-0568-8

Gillis, A., & Roskam, I. (2019). Daily exhaustion and support in parenting: Impact on the quality of the parent–child relationship. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 28, 2007-2016. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-019-01428-2

Glasser, S., & Lerner-Geva, L. (2019). Focus on fathers: paternal depression in the perinatal period. Perspect Public Health, 139(4), 195-198. https://doi.org/10.1177/1757913918790597

Goldstein Z, Rosen B, Howlett A, Anderson M, Herman D. (2020) Interventions for paternalperinataldepression: a systematic review. J Affect Disord.; 265: 505-510. 32090778. 10.1016/j.jad.2019.12.029. 32090778

Goodman, J. H. (2005). Becoming an involved father of an infant.Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing,34(2), 190-200.

Grebe, N. M., Sarafin, R. E., Strenth, C. R., & Zilioli, S. (2019). Pair-bonding, fatherhood, and the role of testosterone: A meta-analytic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev, 98, 221-233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.01.010

Hambidge, S., Cowell, A., Arden-Close, E., & Mayers, A. (2021). “What kind of man gets depressed after having a baby?” Fathers’ experiences of mental health during the perinatal period. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 21(1), 463. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-021-03947-7

Harrington, B., Van Deusen, F., & Ladge, J. (2010). The new dad: Exploring fatherhood within a career context. Boston College, Center for Work & Family.

Herman, R., & Newland, R. (2022). It takes a village: Broadening coparent support to enhance perinatal mental health. The Brown University Child and Adolescent Behavior Letter, 38(3), 1-6. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/cbl.30611

Hildingsson, I.; Haines, H.; Johansson, M.; Rubertsson, C.; Fenwick, J. (2014) Childbirth fear in Swedish fathers is associated with parental stress as well as poor physical and mental health. Midwifery, 30, 248–254.

Hodgson S, Painter J, Kilby L, Hirst J. (2021) The experiences of firsttime fathers in perinatal services: present but invisible. Healthcare. 9:20161. doi: 10.3390/healthcare9020161

Hrybanova, Y., Ekström, A., & Thorstensson, S. (2019). First-time fathers’ experiences of professional support from child health nurses. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 33, 921–930.

Hugill K, Letherby G, Reid T, Lavender T. (2013) Experiences of fathers shortly after the birth of their preterm infants. J Obst Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 42:655–63. doi:

10.1111/1552-6909.12256

Isacco, A., Hofscher, R., & Molloy, S. (2016). An examination of fathers’ mental health help seeking: A brief report. American journal of men's health, 10(6), NP33-NP38.

J Henshaw, E., Cooper, M., Wood, T., N Doan, S., Krishna, S., & Lockhart, M. (2023). Psychosocial predictors of early postpartum depressive and anxious symptoms in primiparous women and their partners. BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 23(1), 209. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-05506-8

Johansson, M., Thomas, J., Hildingsson, I., & Haines, H. (2016). Swedish fathers contemplate the difficulties they face in parenthood. Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare, 8, 55-62. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.srhc.2016.02.005

Jones, D., Hazelton, M., & Ebert, L. (2015). Perinatal mental health and men [Other Journal Article]. Australian Nursing and Midwifery Journal, 23(5), 41. https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.569986721204069

Koh, Y. W., Lee, A. M., Chan, C. Y., Fong, D. Y., Lee, C. P., Leung, K. Y., & Tang, C. S. (2015). Survey on examining prevalence of paternal anxiety and its risk factors in perinatal period in Hong Kong: a longitudinal study. BMC Public Health, 15, 1131. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-2436-4

Kotelchuck, M. (2022). The Impact of Fatherhood on Men’s Health and Development. In M. Grau Grau, M. las Heras Maestro, & H. Riley Bowles (Eds.), Engaged Fatherhood for Men, Families and Gender Equality: Healthcare, Social Policy, and Work Perspectives (pp. 63-91). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-75645-1_4

Kowlessar, O., Fox, J. R., & Wittkowski, A. (2015). The pregnant male: a metasynthesis of first-time fathers’ experiences of pregnancy. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 33(2), 106-127. https://doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2014.970153

Leach, L. S., Poyser, C., Cooklin, A. R., & Giallo, R. (2016). Prevalence and course of anxiety disorders (and symptom levels) in men across the perinatal period: A systematic review. J Affect Disord, 190, 675-686. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2015.09.063

Leahy‐Warren, P., Philpott, L., Elmir, R., & Schmied, V. (2022). Fathers’ perceptions and experiences of support to be a parenting partner during the perinatal period: A scoping review.Journal of Clinical Nursing.

Letourneau, N., Duffett‐Leger, L., Dennis, C.L., Stewart, M. and Tryphonopoulos, P.D., (2011). Identifying the support needs of fathers affected by post‐partum depression: a pilot study.Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing,18(1), pp.41-47.

Letourneau, N.L., Dennis, C.L., Benzies, K., Duffett-Leger, L., Stewart, M., Tryphonopoulos, P.D., Este, D. and Watson, W., (2012). Postpartum depression is a family affair: addressing the impact on mothers, fathers, and children.Issues in mental health nursing,33(7), pp.445-457.

Leung, B. M., Letourneau, N. L., Giesbrecht, G. F., Ntanda, H., Hart, M., & APrON Team. (2017). Predictors of postpartum depression in partnered mothers and fathers from a longitudinal cohort. Community mental health journal, 53, 420-431.

Lever Taylor, B., Billings, J., Morant, N., & Johnson, S. (2017). How do women's partners view perinatal mental health services? A qualitative meta-synthesis. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 25(1), 112-129. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2133

Macdonald, J. A., Graeme, L. G., Wynter, K., Cooke, D., Hutchinson, D., Kendall, G., StGeorge, J., Dowse, E., Francis, L. M., McBride, N., Fairweather, A. K., Manno, L. D., Olsson, C. A., Allsop, S., Leach, L., & Youssef, G. J. (2021). How are you sleeping? Starting the conversation with fathers about their mental health in the early parenting years. Journal of Affective Disorders, 281, 727-737. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.11.081

Macdonald, J. A., Greenwood, C. J., Francis, L. M., Harrison, T. R., Graeme, L. G., Youssef, G. J., Di Manno, L., Skouteris, H., Fletcher, R., Knight, T., Williams, J., Milgrom, J., & Olsson, C. A. (2020). Profiles of Depressive Symptoms and Anger in Men: Associations With Postpartum Family Functioning [Original Research]. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.578114

Majee, W., Thullen, M. J., Davis, A. N., & Sethi, T. K. (2017). Influences on infant feeding: Perceptions of mother-father parent dyads. MCN: The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing, 42(5), 289-294.

Mangialavori, S., Giannotti, M., Cacioppo, M., Spelzini, F., & Baldoni, F. (2021). Screening for Early Signs of Paternal Perinatal Affective Disorder in Expectant Fathers: A Cluster Analysis Approach. Journal of Personalized Medicine, 11(1), 10. https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4426/11/1/10

Marrs, J., Cossar, J. and Wroblewska, A., (2014). Keeping the family together and bonding: a father’s role in a perinatal mental health unit.Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology,32(4), pp.340-354.

Matthey, S., Barnett, B., Ungerer, J. and Waters, B., (2000). Paternal and maternal depressed mood during the transition to parenthood. Journal of affective disorders, 60(2), pp.75-85.

Mayers A, Hambidge S, Bryant O, Arden-Close E.(2020) Supporting women who develop poor postnatal mental health: what support do fathers receive to support their partner and their own mental health?BMC Pregnancy Childbirth; 20(1):359. doi:10.1186/s12884-020-03043-2

Musser, A. K., Ahmed, A. H., Foli, K. J., & Coddington, J. A. (2013,). Paternal postpartum depression: what health care providers should know. J Pediatr Health Care, 27(6), 479-485. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedhc.2012.10.001

Nash, M. (2018). “It’s just good to get a bit of man-talk out in the open”: Men’s experiences of father-only antenatal preparation classes in Tasmania, Australia. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 19(2), 298–307

Nilsen, A. B., Waldenström, U., Rasmussen, S., Hjelmstedt, A., & Schytt, E. (2013). Characteristics of first-time fathers of advanced age: a Norwegian population-based study. BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 13, 29. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2393-13-29

Nomaguchi, K., & Milkie, M. A. (2020). Parenthood and well‐being: A decade in review. Journal of Marriage and Family, 82(1), 198-223.

Oliffe, J. L., Ogrodniczuk, J. S., Gordon, S. J., Creighton, G., Kelly, M. T., Black, N., & Mackenzie, C. (2016). Stigma in male depression and suicide: a Canadian sex comparison study. Community mental health journal, 52, 302-310.

Patulny, R. (2011). The social penalty of work/family balance. Comparing Australian men and women's social contact with ex-household friends and family.

Paulson JF, Bazemore SD (2010) Prenatal and postpartum depression in fathers and its association with maternal depression: a meta-analysis. JAMA 303(19):1961–1969

Paulson, J. F., Bazemore, S. D., Goodman, J. H., & Leiferman, J. A. (2016). The course and interrelationship of maternal and paternal perinatal depression. Arch Womens Ment Health, 19(4), 655-663. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-016-0598-4

Paulson, J.F. and Bazemore, S.D., (2010). Prenatal and postpartum depression in fathers and its association with maternal depression: a meta-analysis.Jama,303(19), pp.1961-1969.

Pedersen, S. C., Maindal, H. T., & Ryom, K. (2021). “I Wanted to Be There as a Father, but I Couldn’t”: A Qualitative Study of Fathers’ Experiences of Postpartum Depression and Their Help-Seeking Behavior. American Journal of Men's Health, 15(3), 15579883211024375. https://doi.org/10.1177/15579883211024375

Persson, E. K., Fridlund, B., Kvist, L. J., & Dykes, A. K. (2012). Fathers’ sense of security during the first postnatal week-A qualitative interview study in Sweden. Midwifery, 28(5), 697–704

Philpott, L. F., Savage, E., FitzGerald, S., & Leahy-Warren, P. (2019). Anxiety in fathers in the perinatal period: A systematic review. Midwifery, 76, 54-101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2019.05.013

Pinto, T.M, Samorinha, C., Tendais, I., Figueiredo B. (2020) Depression and paternal adjustment and attitudes during the transition to parenthood. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology - 38(3), 281-296

Poh, H. L., Koh, S. S. L., & He, H. G. (2014). An integrative review of fathers' experiences during pregnancy and childbirth. International nursing review, 61(4), 543-554.

Premberg, Å., Carlsson, G., Hellström, A. L., & Berg, M. (2011). First-time fathers’ experiences of childbirth—A phenomenological study. Midwifery, 27(6), 848-853.

Rabinowitz & Cochrain 2008 - Rabinowitz, F. E., & Cochran, S. V. (2008). Men and therapy: A case of masked male depression. Clinical Case Studies, 7, 575–591. 10.1177/1534650108319917

Ramchandani, P. and Psychogiou, L., (2009). Paternal psychiatric disorders and children's psychosocial development.The Lancet,374(9690), pp.646-653.

Ramchandani, P., Stein, A., Evans, J. and O'Connor, T.G., (2005). Paternal depression in the postnatal period and child development: a prospective population study.The Lancet,365(9478), pp.2201-2205.

Ramchandani, P.G., Stein, A., O'Connor, T.G., Heron, J.O.N., Murray, L. and Evans, J., (2008). Depression in men in the postnatal period and later child psychopathology: a population cohort study.Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry,47(4), pp.390-398.

Recto, P., & Champion, J. D. (2020). Psychosocial Factors Associated with Paternal Perinatal Depression in the United States: A Systematic Review. Issues in mental health nursing, 41(7), 608–623. https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2019.1704320

Riggs, E., Yelland, J., Szwarc, J., Wahidi, S., Casey, S., Chesters, D., Fouladi, F., Duell-Piening, P., Giallo, R., & Brown, S. (2016). Fatherhood in a New Country: A Qualitative Study Exploring the Experiences of Afghan Men and Implications for Health Services. Birth, 43(1), 86-92. https://doi.org/10.1111/birt.12208

Rominov, H., Giallo, R., & Whelan, T. A. (2016). Fathers’ postnatal distress, parenting self-efficacy, later parenting behavior, and children’s emotional-behavioral functioning: A longitudinal study. Journal of Family Psychology, 30(8), 907.

Rominov, H., Giallo, R., Pilkington, P. D., & Whelan, T. A. (2018). “Getting help for yourself is a way of helping your baby:” Fathers’ experiences of support for mental health and parenting in the perinatal period.Psychology of Men & Masculinity,19(3), 457.

Ross, N. J., Church, S., Hill, M., Seaman, P., & Roberts, T. (2012). The perspectives of young men and their teenage partners on maternity and health services during pregnancy and early parenthood. Children & Society, 26, 304–315

Roubinov, D. S., Luecken, L. J., Crnic, K. A., & Gonzales, N. A. (2014) Postnatal depression in Mexican American fathers: Demographic, cultural, and familial predictors. Journal of Affective Disorders, 152-154, 360-368. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2013.09.038

Salzmann‐Erikson, M., & Eriksson, H. (2013). Fathers sharing about early parental support in health‐care‐virtual discussions on an Internet forum. Health & social care in the community, 21(4), 381-390.

Saxbe, D., Rossin-Slater, M., & Goldenberg, D. (2018). The transition to parenthood as a critical window for adult health.American Psychologist,73(9), 1190.

Saxbe: Saxbe DE, Edelstein RS, Lyden HM, Wardecker BM, Chopik WJ, Moors AC. (2017) Fathers' decline in testosterone and synchrony with partner testosterone during pregnancy predicts greater postpartum relationship investment. Horm Behav.

Schobinger E, Vanetti M, Ramelet A-S and Horsch A (2022) Social support needs of first-time parents in the early postpartum period: A qualitative study. Psychiatry 13:1043990.

Schuppan, K. M., Roberts, R., & Powrie, R. (2019). Paternal Perinatal Mental Health: At-Risk Fathers’ Perceptions of Help-Seeking and Screening. The Journal of Men’s Studies, 27(3), 307-328. https://doi.org/10.1177/1060826519829908

Schytt, E.; Bergström, M. (2014) First-time fathers’ expectations and experiences of childbirth in relation to age. Midwifery 2014, 30, 82–88

Scottish Government. (2017). The best start: five-year plan for maternity and neonatal care. https://www.gov.scot/publications/best-start-five-year-forward-plan-maternity-neonatal-care-scotland/pages/3/

Scottish Government. (2021). Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Programme Board: delivery plan - September 2021 to September 2022. https://www.gov.scot/publications/perinatal-infant-mental-health-programme-board-delivery-plan-september-2021-september-2022/pages/2/

Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN). (2012) Management of perinatal mood disorders. Edinburgh: SIGN; 2012. (SIGN publication no. 127).

Seedat, S. (2020). Paternal perinatal mental disorders are inextricably linked to maternal and child morbidity. World Psychiatry, 19(3), 337-338. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20782

Shibli-Kometiani, M.; Brown, A. (2012) Fathers’ experiences accompanying labour and birth. Br. J. Midwifery, 20, 339–344.

Shorey S, Chan V. (2020) Paternal mental health during the perinatal period: A qualitative systematic review. J Adv Nurs:1–1

Shorey S, Dennis C-L, Bridge S, Chong YS, Holroyd E, He H-G. (2017) First-time fathers’ postnatal experiences and support needs: a descriptive qualitative study. J Adv Nurs. 73:2987–96. doi: 10.1111/jan.13349

Shorey, S., & Ang, L. (2019). Experiences, needs, and perceptions of paternal involvement during the first year after their infants’ birth: A meta-synthesis. PLoS One, 14(1), 1–27

Sigurdsson, B., Palsson, S.P., Aevarsson, O., Olafsdottir, M. and Johannsson, M., (2015). Validity of Gotland Male Depression Scale for male depression in a community study: The Sudurnesjamenn study. Journal of affective disorders, 173, pp.81-89.

Singley, D. B., & Edwards, L. M. (2017). New fatherhood: An overview of men's perinatal mental health. In Perinatal mental health and the military family: Identifying and treating mood and anxiety disorders. (pp. 48-66). Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315674858-4

Singley, D.B. and Edwards, L.M., (2015). Men’s perinatal mental health in the transition to fatherhood.Professional Psychology: Research and Practice,46(5), p.309.

Speisman, B. B., Storch, E. A., & Abramowitz, J. S. (2011). Postpartum obsessive‐compulsive disorder.Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing,40(6), 680-690.

Spry, E., Giallo, R., Moreno-Betancur, M., Macdonald, J., Becker, D., Borschmann, R., Brown, S., Patton, G. C. and Olsson, C. A. (2018) “Preconception prediction of expectant fathers' mental health: 20-year cohort study from adolescence,” BJPsych Open. , 4(2), pp. 58–60.

Stapleton, L. R. T., Schetter, C. D., Westling, E., Rini, C., Glynn, L. M., Hobel, C. J., & Sandman, C. A. (2012). Perceived partner support in pregnancy predicts lower maternal and infant distress. Journal of Family Psychology, 26, 453-463. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0028332

Steen, M., Downe, S., Bamford, N. and Edozien, L., (2012). Engaging fathers in childbirth: A meta synthesis.

Stramrood, C. A., Doornbos, B., Wessel, I., van Geenen, M., Aarnoudse, J. G., van den Berg, P. P., Weijmar Schultz, W. C., & van Pampus, M. G. (2013). Fathers with PTSD and depression in pregnancies complicated by preterm preeclampsia or PPROM. Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 287, 653-661.

Stuart-Parrigon, K., & Stuart, S. (2014). Perinatal Depression: An Update and Overview. Current Psychiatry Reports, 16(9), 468. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-014-0468-6

Swami, V., Barron, D., Smith, L. and Furnham, A., (2020). Mental health literacy of maternal and paternal postnatal (postpartum) depression in British adults. Journal of Mental Health, 29(2), pp.217-224.

Sweeney, S., & MacBeth, A. (2016). The effects of paternal depression on child and adolescent outcomes: A systematic review. Journal of Affective Disorders, 205, 44-59. doi:10.1016/j. jad.2016.05.07

Tomfohr-Madsen, L. M., Racine, N., Giesbrecht, G. F., Lebel, C., & Madigan, S. (2021). Depression and anxiety in pregnancy during COVID-19: A rapid review and meta-analysis. Psychiatry Res, 300, 113912. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113912

Tonei, Valentina (2018) Mother’s health after baby’s birth: does delivery method matter? : Does the delivery method matter? Journal of Health Economics. pp. 182-196. ISSN 0167- 6296

Underwood, L., Waldie, K. E., Peterson, E., D'Souza, S., Verbiest, M., McDaid, F., & Morton, S. (2017). Paternal Depression Symptoms During Pregnancy and After Childbirth Among Participants in the Growing Up in New Zealand Study. JAMA psychiatry, 74(4), 360–369.

Vakrat, A., Apter-Levy, Y., & Feldman, R. (2018, Oct). Sensitive Fathering Buffers the Effects of Chronic Maternal Depression on Child Psychopathology. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev, 49(5), 779-785. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-018-0795-7

Venning, Anthony, Madeleine CE Herd, David P. Smith, Sharon J. Lawn, Leila Mohammadi, Fiona Glover, Paula Redpath, and Victoria Quartermain. (2021) "“I felt like less than a shadow in the room”: Systematic review of the experiences and needs of new fathers."Psychology of Men & Masculinities 22, no. 1 (2021): 135.

Wagner C, Knight K, Steptoe A, Wardle J. (2007) Functional health literacy and health-promoting behaviour in a national sample of British adults.J Epidemiol Community Health.;61(12):1086–1090. doi:10.1136/jech.2006.053967

Wall, S., & Dempsey, M. (2022). The effect of COVID-19 lockdowns on women's perinatal mental health: a systematic review. Women and birth : journal of the Australian College of Midwives, S1871-5192(1822)00106-00108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2022.06.005

Wang, D., Li, Y. L., Qiu, D., & Xiao, S. Y. (2021). Factors Influencing Paternal Postpartum Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of affective disorders, 293, 51–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.05.088

Wee, K.Y., Pier, C., Milgrom, J., Richardson, B., Fisher, J., Skouteris, H., (2013). Fathers’ mental health during the ante- and postnatal periods: knowledge, recommendations and interventions. British Journal of Midwifery 21, 342–353

Wee, K.Y., Skouteris, H., Pier, C., Richardson, B. and Milgrom, J., (2011). Correlates of ante-and postnatal depression in fathers: a systematic review.Journal of affective disorders,130(3), pp.358-377.

Wells, M.B. and Sarkadi, A., (2012). Do father-friendly policies promote father-friendly child-rearing practices? A review of Swedish parental leave and child health centers.Journal of Child and Family Studies,21, pp.25-31.

Whitelock A. (2016) Why do health visitors screen mothers and not fathers for depression in the postnatal period? J Health Visit. 4:312–21. 10.12968/johv.2016.4.6.312

Whisman, M.A., (2007). Marital distress and DSM-IV psychiatric disorders in a population-based national survey. Journal of abnormal psychology, 116(3), p.638.

Wilhelm K. (2014) Gender and mental health.Austral N Z J Psychiatry.;48(7):603–605. doi:10.1177/0004867414538678

Wong, O., Nguyen, T., Thomas, N., Thomson‐Salo, F., Handrinos, D., & Judd, F. (2016). Perinatal mental health: Fathers–the (mostly) forgotten parent. Asia ‐ Pacific Psychiatry, 8(4), 247-255.

Wynter, K., Francis, L.M., Fletcher, R., McBride, N., Dowse, E., Wilson, N., Di Manno, L., Teague, S., Macdonald, J.A. and Australian Fatherhood Research Consortium, (2020). Sleep, mental health and wellbeing among fathers of infants up to one year postpartum: A scoping review.Midwifery,88, p.102738.

Wynter, K., Rowe, H., Burns, J., & Fisher, J. (2015). Prevention of postnatal mental health problems: a survey of Victorian Maternal and Child Health Nurses.Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, The,33(1), 29-37.

Contact

Email: socialresearch@gov.scot

Back to top