A longitudinal analysis of the transition to fatherhood and paternal mental health

Background: The contribution of the mental health of fathers to the health of families is a growing public health concern. However, as a new focus, the exact nature and natural history of mental health changes around the transition to fatherhood are largely unexplored. Objective: To assess mental health changes in first time fathers as they transition to parenthood. Methods: Using the four waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, a nationally representative, longitudinal study, we created a fixed-effect regression model to examined depressive symptoms (CES-D Wave 4: α = 0.79) in men transitioning into fatherhood between Waves 3 and 4 controlling for typical predictors (health, income, past mental health) and accounting for time in fatherhood. Results: 4642 men became fathers; 35% were new fathers (0-2 years), 20% were intermediate (3-4 years) and 45% were 5+ years. The average age was 28 years and 54% were White, 29% Black, 9% Hispanic, 5% Asian, and 3% Native American. Fatherhood status was found to independently increase depression scores for new fathers (p = 0.037) and intermediate fathers (p = 0.020) and was not significant for 5+ year fathers (FE model: X2 = 875.29, df = 13, p < 0.0001, R2 = 0.2686). Conclusions: Becoming a father increases depression scores in the early years of fatherhood which corresponds to critical periods in child development. This milestone along the lifespan may be an important place to consider ways to address fathers' mental health as a way to improve family and child health.