Unmasking Potential Impacts of Parent and Coparent ADHD on Mental Health in the First Year Postpartum

Parental mental health plays a critical role in the wellbeing of the family, yet few studies have examined how parental ADHD affects postpartum depression and anxiety. This study investigates the hypothesis that parent (including coparent) ADHD symptoms are associated with postpartum depressive and anxiety symptoms.

117 mother-father dyads (half with parental ADHD) were recruited when their infants were 6 to 10 months old. Participants completed questionnaires on ADHD, depression, anxiety, and social support. Clinician-administered semi-structured interviews assessed ADHD symptoms and psychiatric histories.

Participants in ADHD and non-ADHD dyads were demographically comparable but differed in prevalence of prior mood disorder (47% vs. 24%). Individuals with ADHD had significantly higher odds of moderate-to-severe depressive (OR = 2.70, 95% CI [1.10, 6.62]) and anxiety symptoms (OR = 4.58, 95% CI [1.82, 11.53]). Parallel mixed effects models accounting for parent dyad found that self-reported and clinician-reported ADHD symptoms and prior mood disorder history were significant predictors of depressive and anxiety symptoms (p < .025). Coparent ADHD symptoms were significantly associated with postpartum mood symptoms in the self-report models only. Higher perceived social support was associated with fewer depressive symptoms, approaching or reaching statistical significance in self- and clinician-report models, respectively. Secondary analysis identified self-reported ADHD symptoms and prior mood disorder as predictors of postpartum depressive and anxiety symptoms regardless of parent sex (p < .05).

Findings suggest that parental ADHD - in either parent - contributes to postpartum psychological distress. Screening and treatment of ADHD in new parents may reduce depressive and anxiety symptoms for those showing ADHD symptoms and their coparents, supporting the mental health outcomes of the whole family.