While maternal perinatal mental health has long been a focus of research, the influence of paternal depression, anxiety, and stress on child outcomes has remained underexplored. A recent comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis published in JAMA Pediatrics addresses this gap. The study examined the impact of paternal perinatal mental distress from conception to 24 months postpartum on child development (infancy to adolescence). It aimed to clarify how paternal mental health influences global, cognitive, language, physical, motor, adaptive, and particularly social-emotional outcomes in children.

Results showed that paternal perinatal mental distress is modestly but consistently associated with poorer child development across multiple domains. Notably, small effect sizes were found for global (r = -0.12), cognitive (r = -0.07), language (r = -0.15), physical (r = 0.04), and social-emotional outcomes (r = 0.09), with no significant associations identified for motor or adaptive development.

Postnatal distress had a stronger influence than antenatal distress, especially in early childhood, suggesting that direct interactions between father and child may be key. Associations were most robust for negative emotionality, externalizing behaviors, and regulatory dysfunction. Of note, most studies relied on self-reported paternal distress and parent-reported child outcomes.

Overall, the data in this study underscores the vital, yet often overlooked role of paternal mental health in child development. Paternal mental health is especially important during the postnatal period. It is recommended that practitioners routinely screen for paternal depression, anxiety, and stress, and perform timely interventions when needed.

Reference:

Le Bas G et al. JAMA Pediatr. 2025:e250880. Abstract