South Middlesex Times

Rutgers Health has unveiled new research highlighting the lasting impact of paternal depression on children. This study, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, focuses on the long-term effects of untreated paternal depression, revealing connections to behavioral and social difficulties in children as they grow older.

Kristine Schmitz, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, along with colleagues from Princeton and Rider universities, led this research. The study identifies that children exposed to paternal depression during early childhood are significantly more prone to behavioral issues and poor social skills by the age of 9, as reported by their teachers.

"We need to consider depression in both parents, not just mothers," Schmitz emphasized. "Depression is treatable, and to support the whole family, pediatricians must start talking with dads about it and developing father-focused interventions that meet their needs."

The study notes that between 8% and 13% of fathers in the U.S. are likely to experience depression during early parenthood, with rates increasing to 50% when mothers are also facing postpartum depression. However, the broader implications of paternal depression beyond the postnatal period have not been thoroughly studied until now.

Schmitz's team conducted a detailed analysis using data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS), a longstanding national birth cohort. The study examined depressive symptoms in fathers when their children were 5 years old, and subsequently analyzed behavioral assessments when the same children reached age 9.

"Kindergarten entry is an important developmental milestone, and adversities faced at that time can lead to poorer engagement and behaviors in grade school that may persist or magnify through middle and high school," the researchers noted.

Through rigorous analysis of data from 1,422 fathers, controlling for various factors including maternal depression, a definitive connection between paternal depression and child conduct was established. Children whose fathers reported depressive feelings were significantly more likely to display behavioral challenges such as restlessness, defiance, and anger, as well as reduced cooperation and self-esteem by age 9.

Schmitz attributes this link to potential parenting challenges and reduced emotional support stemming from paternal depression, along with possible domestic conflicts or stress. No prior U.S. population-based study has so clearly mapped the impact of paternal depression on child behavior in educational settings.

Despite the challenges linked to paternal depression, Schmitz believes early identification and intervention offer a path to improved outcomes for both fathers and their children. "As parents, we can model that when we struggle, we reach out and get help," she said. "That’s a lesson children will carry for a lifetime."