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Paternal Perinatal Depression, Anxiety, and Stress and Child Development: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Genevieve Le Bas1, Stephanie R Aarsman1,2, Alana Rogers1

  • 1SEED Lifespan Strategic Research Centre, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia.

JAMA Pediatrics
|June 16, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Paternal perinatal mental distress negatively impacts child development, affecting global, social-emotional, cognitive, language, and physical outcomes. Interventions targeting fathers

Area of Science:

  • Psychology and Child Development
  • Perinatal Mental Health
  • Longitudinal Studies

Background:

  • Paternal perinatal mental distress, encompassing depression, anxiety, and stress, is increasingly recognized as a significant factor influencing child development.
  • Existing literature highlights a need for comprehensive synthesis to understand the scope and impact of paternal mental health on offspring outcomes from birth through adolescence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review and meta-analyze the association between paternal perinatal mental distress and offspring development up to 18 years of age.
  • To quantify the impact of paternal mental health during the perinatal period on various domains of child development, including global, social-emotional, cognitive, language, and physical outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive search of multiple databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL) and gray literature was conducted for studies published up to November 2024.
  • Inclusion criteria specified English-language, human samples, quantitative data, longitudinal designs, and measures of both paternal perinatal mental distress and offspring development.
  • Data from 48 cohorts (84 studies) were quantitatively synthesized using univariate random-effects models, with study quality assessed using the NIH quality assessment tool.

Main Results:

  • Paternal perinatal mental distress was associated with poorer global (r = -0.12), social-emotional (r = 0.09), cognitive (r = -0.07), language (r = -0.15), and physical development (r = 0.04) in offspring.
  • Associations were generally stronger for postnatal paternal mental distress compared to antenatal distress.
  • No significant associations were found for adaptive or motor development outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Paternal perinatal mental distress is a modifiable predictor of child development, underscoring its importance in public health.
  • Targeting paternal mental distress during the perinatal period through preventative interventions is crucial for supporting fathers and promoting the health and well-being of the next generation.
Abstract

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