|
Published: May 07, 2008 02:53 pm
HEALTH: New dads twice as likely to become depressed
Gannett News Service
Fathers of 9-month-olds are about twice as likely as other men their age to show symptoms of major depression, which also can hurt their children: Depressed fathers read less to their kids, and the children know slightly fewer words by age 2, a study suggested Tuesday.
Depression in mothers is known to hamper children’s academic performance and mental health. But the study on fathers, presented at the American Psychiatric Association meeting in Washington, D.C., is among the first to suggest that fathers’ depression in early childhood affects children.
In the study, 10 percent of the dads with 9-month-olds had symptoms that met the criteria for clinical depression, says James Paulson, study leader and a psychologist at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk. That compares with 5 percent for U.S. men the same age, he says.
“Anybody who’s had a baby knows it can be intensely stressful and intensely pleasurable at the same time,” Paulson says. “The man may feel increased financial demands, fatigue from a loss of sleep, a change in his relationship with the woman - any of these could contribute to depression.”
If the ecstasy side of new parenthood doesn’t also kick in, a dad may interact less with his baby, Paulson says. Depressed fathers read less to their children at ages 1 and 2 than did fathers who weren’t depressed.
By age 2, babies of depressed fathers had somewhat smaller vocabularies, according to the study of about 4,500 new fathers. The difference was significant even accounting for parents’ education and income. “We don’t know how this will play out over time,” Paulson says.
Another new British study links a father’s depression when a child is 2 months old to psychiatric disorders at age 7. For example, children of depressed fathers were nearly twice as likely to be defiant, disobedient and hostile, the University of Oxford psychiatrists found.
With fathers taking on more child care, their parenting can have a big influence, says psychiatrist Nada Stotland of Rush Medical College in Chicago. “There aren’t any secrets from babies. They absorb the feelings around them.”
From age 3 on, children tend to blame themselves if adults in the family are depressed, she says.
The findings underscore the need for fathers to seek professional help if they’re having a lot of trouble adjusting to parenthood, Paulson says.
|
|
|
|
 |
Retail Manager
RETAIL Manager needed, exp needed, full time. Fax resumes to Hyde Park Laundry 285-8677....>MORE
Warehouse
Warehouse, Assembly
Production & Cleaning
1st, 2nd & 3rd shifts
Sanborn, Grand Island
Amherst & Tona...>MORE
Maintenance Supervisor
Maintenance Supervisor
FT Maintenance Niagara Falls YMCA. HVAC, electr., plbg, carpentry, cleaning, pool. $13.25/hr...>MORE
Adult Residential Services Administrator
HUMAN SERVICES
Progressive Niagara County Agency serving adults with psychiatric disabilties seeks an Adult Reside...>MORE
Private Investigator
Private Investigator
Proven ability and equipment to conduct surveillance, background inquires and searches. 1-5 ye...>MORE
Dental Reception
Maintenance
Supervisor
FT Maintenance Niagara Falls YMCA. HVAC, electr., plbg, carpentry, cleaning, pool. $13....>MORE
BILINGUAL PHONE INTERVIEWER
Bilingual Telephone interviewer. Surveys for insurance policy review. Spanish/English a Must. ft/pt & Sat. No sales/coll...>MORE
Driver
DRIVERS – CDL A
TEAM DRIVERS NEEDED FOR
DEDICATED RUNS
No touch freight............Good miles
...>MORE
Nurse Practitioner
Nurse Practitioner, Family or Geriatric Per diem visits, to complete an assessment form with a home visit. $40. per v...>MORE
MST Therapists
Catholic Charities has an excellent professional development opportunity available for the following position:
MST ...>MORE
See all ads |
Ford 1999 Windstar
FORD 1999 WIndstar, LX, fully loaded, 38k miles, $3850. Excellent condition 860-4747...>MORE
Monte Carlo Z24 1998
MONTE CARLO Z24, 1998, runs good, average miles, excellent shape, $1800 , 990-2303...>MORE
Ford 1998 F150
FORD 1998 F150, standard cab, 4wd, excellent shape, $3495.
716-525-2889...>MORE
Ford 2001 Taurus
Ford 2001 Taurus Station wagon, well maintained, 112,000 miles Siver ext. 4 dr, auto, asking $2800/BO. 716-772-2454....>MORE
Chevy 1994 High Topper Van
CHEVY 1994 High topper van, high road miles, mechanically sound, $900 or bo, 716-510-8105...>MORE
1999 Dodge Caravan
DODGE 1999 Caravan, 33, V6, auto, A/C, 99k miles, good cond., runs great. $1950. 525-7796...>MORE
1996 Ford Escort
FORD 1996 Escort 4 cyl, 2 dr, exc cond in & out, no rust, 1 owner, only 61k orig mi, $2195. 523-7102...>MORE
Yamaha 1982, 750
YAMAHA 1982, 750, runs perfect,
low mileage, $895.
716-525-2889...>MORE
Nissan 1993 4x4
NISSAN 1993 4x4, extended cab, bedliner cap, $1200 or best offer, 715-2450...>MORE
1996 Saturn Sport Coup
SATURN 1996 Sport coup, 4 cyl, auto, exc cond in & out, loaded, CD, no rust, 97k orig. mi, $2195. 523-7102....>MORE
See all ads |
|
 |
|
Print this story
E-mail this story
