An Australian study of over 3,000 fathers has found that approximately
one in ten report high levels of distress in the first year after having a
baby.
By: Rebecca Giallo, RMIT
University – The birth of a new baby is usually an exciting and joyous
experience for parents. But it can also be a busy and exhausting time as they
struggle with the demands of baby care, disruptions to sleep, and changes to
family life, relationships, and employment.
While all this is normal and
expected, some parents experience difficulties adjusting. Much is known about
mothers’ postnatal well-being, but our understanding of new fathers’ mental
health is still growing.
Now an analysis of over 3,000
fathers participating in the Growing Up in Australia: Longitudinal Study of
Australian Children (LSAC) has found that approximately one in ten report high
levels of distress in the first year after having a baby.
Distress among fathers was 1.5
times higher than men in the general population, and comparable to rates of
postnatal depression for mothers (13 percent). While consistent with estimates
from previous research, this is the first time we’ve had data from a large,
nationally representative sample of fathers in Australia.
Risk factors
We also identified risk factors
associated with the postnatal mental health of the fathers participating in the
study. Our key finding was that men who don’t have access to flexible working
hours and family-friendly leave, and have low job security and little control
over their workload, are five times more likely to report psychological distress.
Access to favourable employment
conditions is likely to make it easier for men to manage the balance between
work, parenting and family responsibilities, enabling them to be available to
their family during the first year of fatherhood.
Other risk factors include low
satisfaction in their relationship, low confidence in their parenting role and
having a partner who is also experiencing distress. After having a baby,
couples often experience significant changes in their relationship, in both the
time spent together and in their communication. This can contribute to
relationship dissatisfaction, stress and depression among couples. It’s also a
time when confidence in parenting may be low as couples adjust to the often
demanding and challenging nature of caring for a baby.
We also found that men whose
partners were employed in a more prestigious occupation were also more likely
to report distress. Family income can drop considerably in the postnatal
period, as one parent usually remains out of paid work for some months to care
for the baby. For men whose partners provided a higher portion of the household
income, the pressure to provide financially for the family is particularly high
and, unsurprisingly, associated with more distress and worry.
Coping strategies
Our research findings highlight
the importance of raising awareness of fathers’ mental health issues during the
postnatal period. Infant and early childhood services typically focus on
supporting mothers and babies; but fathers are also at heightened risk of
stress, anxiety, and depression. Ensuring they have access to information and
support to promote their well-being is very important.
In particular, fathers are likely
to benefit from access to flexible working arrangements and time off to help
them respond to the changing needs of their family and to balance work and home
life. Information about how fathers and families can look after their health
and well-being is also important.
It’s normal for both mothers and
fathers to experience stress, depression or difficulty coping from time to time
as they adjust to the changes and demands of a new baby in the family. Men may
benefit from specific information about and support for negotiating changes in
the relationship and how to manage if she is experiencing difficulties after
having a baby.
We encourage fathers who are
concerned about their well-being to talk to someone about their experiences.
This might be their partner, a family member or a friend. Making an appointment
to see a doctor is a good idea too.
Previous research has shown that
fathers’ distress is associated with difficulties in the couple relationship,
parenting difficulties, and poorer well-being outcomes for their children.
Studies have also shown that fathers with good mental health can buffer the
potential effects of mothers’ well-being difficulties on their children.
Ensuring that fathers are well supported during the postnatal period is not
only important for fathers, but also for promoting the well-being of their
whole family.
The article can be found at: Giallo R et al. (2012) Psychosocial risk factors
associated with fathers’ mental health in the postnatal period: Results from a
population-based study.
This article was originally published
at The
Conversation.
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