17 Jun 2025 • A comprehensive meta-analysis of 84 studies highlighted paternal perinatal mental distress as a major modifiable predictor of adverse offspring development.

Depression, anxiety, and stress in fathers corresponded to worse global (r = −0.12), social-emotional (r = 0.09), cognitive (r = −0.07), language (r = −0.15) and physical development (r = 0.04) from birth to adolescence.

No association were observed for adaptive or motor outcomes. Postanal distress showed stronger effects compared to antenatal.

These findings underscore the importance of integrating fathers into early mental health interventions to support child development across the first 18 years of life.

Source: JAMA Network | Read Full Story