Browsing by Author "Tentke, Tanja"

The aim of this review was to investigate the associations between the fathers’ early depression after the birth of their child and the child’s behavior problems later in life. The possible mediators of the associations were also evaluated. There have been very few studies on early paternal depression and even fewer have investigated how the early depression is associated with the child’s behavior problems. However, as studies have repeatedly linked early maternal depression with children’s developmental challenges, such as behavior problems, it is plausible that similar associations could be found between early paternal depression and the child’s behavior problems. The research question is: How is the early paternal depression after the baby’s birth associated with the child’s behavior problems later in life? The literature search was conducted by using the OvidMedline and Google Scholar databases and search terms such as depression, father, infant, behavior problems, depressive symptoms, postpartum, child development and postnatal depression. The early paternal depression was found to be associated with the child’s later behavior problems. The associations were at least partly mediated by family factors, such as marital difficulties. Although the association between early paternal depression and later child behavior problems was independent from the early maternal depression, maternal depression seemed to at least partially mediate the association between paternal depression and the child’s behavior problems. The associations between paternal depression and the child’s symptoms were influenced by the gender of the child. However, the findings on gender differences were somewhat inconsistent. The early paternal depression might predispose the child to later behavioral problems and these problems might create long-term challenges in the child’s overall development. Thus far there is only a limited number of studies regarding the early paternal depression and its associations with the child’s behavior problems, and the findings have been slightly inconsistent. To support the well-being of both father and the child, this issue should be taken into account.