Risk factors for paternal perinatal depression and anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Chhabra, Jasleen, McDermott, Brett, and Li, Wendy (2020) Risk factors for paternal perinatal depression and anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 21 (4). pp. 593-611.

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Abstract

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.

Item ID: 62518
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1939-151X
Keywords: fathers, depression, anxiety, pregnancy, childbirth
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Copyright Information: © 2020, American Psychological Association. In accordance with the publisher's policies, the Author Accepted Manuscript of this publication is available Open Access from ResearchOnline@JCU.
Date Deposited: 12 Mar 2020 00:15
FoR Codes: 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5203 Clinical and health psychology > 520304 Health psychology @ 50%
52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5203 Clinical and health psychology > 520302 Clinical psychology @ 50%
SEO Codes: 92 HEALTH > 9205 Specific Population Health (excl. Indigenous Health) > 920505 Mens Health @ 50%
92 HEALTH > 9204 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) > 920410 Mental Health @ 50%
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