Paternal Mental Health Risk Rises One Year After Childbirth: JAMA

A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that fathers experienced lower rates of incident psychiatric disorders during pregnancy and the early postpartum period, followed by a return to preconception levels. However, by one year postpartum, the incidence of depression and stress-related disorders increased significantly, with rates approximately 30% higher than preconception levels, indicating a delayed rise in mental health risk among fathers.

This study tracked over 1.9 million births involving over 1 million fathers from 2003 to 2021. This research analyzed the incidence of newly diagnosed psychiatric disorders from one year before conception through one year after childbirth, by offering a detailed timeline of risk.

These findings showed that fathers are less likely to be diagnosed with psychiatric disorders during their partner’s pregnancy and the early postpartum period when compared to the year before conception. Incidence rates for any psychiatric disorder dropped noticeably in early pregnancy and shortly after birth. Similar declines were observed for anxiety, alcohol use, and drug use disorders.

This suggests it could reflect a “protective” period where expectant fathers are more focused on family responsibilities, or alternatively, a delay in seeking help due to competing priorities during pregnancy and early parenthood. By the end of the first year after childbirth, diagnoses of depression and stress-related disorders rose significantly (approximately 30%) when compared to the preconception levels. 

Conditions including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, psychosis, and tobacco use disorder remained relatively stable throughout the entire period, suggesting that not all psychiatric risks fluctuate with the transition to fatherhood. While mothers are routinely screened for postpartum depression, fathers rarely receive the same attention. This study suggests that monitoring paternal mental health, more towards the later part of the postpartum year, could be crucial for the well-being of the entire family.

Overall, the findings of this study suggest that paternal mental health can influence child development, partner relationships, and overall family stability. Untreated depression or stress in fathers has been linked in previous research to behavioral and emotional challenges in children. More inclusive approach to perinatal mental health which recognizes fathers as equally important participants in the family’s psychological ecosystem are required.

Reference:

Xiang, N., Zhou, J., Lin, Y., Yang, Y., Martini, M., Tang, B., Chen, Y., Papadopoulos, F. C., Fransson, E., Skalkidou, A., Huang, J., & Lu, D. (2026). Psychiatric disorders among fathers in Sweden before, during, and after partner pregnancy. JAMA Network Open, 9(3), e262725. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.2725