Perinatal mental health: Fathers - the (mostly) forgotten parent
Olivia Wong1, Tram Nguyen2,3, Naomi Thomas2
1Centre for Women's Mental Health, Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, Australia. oli@hotmail.com.
Summary
Paternal mental health during the perinatal period significantly impacts infant development. More research is needed on fathers
Area of Science:
- Perinatal mental health
- Infant development
- Paternal psychology
Background:
- Parental mental health is a key factor in infant and child development.
- Limited research exists on paternal mental health during the perinatal period.
- Understanding fathers' mental well-being is crucial for family health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review existing clinical research on paternal perinatal mental health.
- To explore the impact of paternal mental health on infant development.
- To identify gaps in current research and suggest future directions.
Main Methods:
- Conducted an electronic literature search using MEDLINE and PubMed.
- Utilized key texts for cross-referencing and identifying additional relevant articles.
Main Results:
- Men face increased mental health risks during the transition to fatherhood and the perinatal period.
- Paternal mental health influences infant emotional and behavioral development.
- Research on fathers with mental illness and their family impact is limited.
Conclusions:
- A shift towards a family-centered approach is needed, focusing on parent-infant relationships.
- Further research on fathering roles and paternal perinatal mental illness is essential.
- Investigating risk factors, family system impacts, and interventions is crucial.
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