Fathers’ mental health and wellbeing concerns within the transition to fatherhood, and available support.
Quick-read summary
This research addresses the health and social care issue around fathers’ mental health within the perinatal period (from the start of pregnancy to one year after the baby is born) and the lack of support addressing fathers needs.
The findings highlight that many fathers find the transition to be difficult, and recommend that there is greater attention on fathers’ experiences of paternal perinatal support and programmes, to inform future specialised support.
More about the study
The transition to fatherhood can be a very stressful and isolating experience.
Lifestyle adjustments within the transition to fatherhood may possibly increase fathers’ vulnerability to developing mental health conditions.
Previous work has shown a link between pregnancy and childbirth and increased depressive and anxiety symptoms in fathers, with 1 in 10 fathers’ experiencing postnatal depression within the UK. Despite this, fathers’ have highlighted the absence of adequate support and poor information.
This study looked at research evidence that was already available, that explored fathers’ mental health and well-being experiences globally.
It looked at fathers’ concerns or challenges within the transition to fatherhood, as well as fathers’ experiences of programmes and support.
The findings highlighted that fathers found the transition to be difficult, experiencing diminished partner relationships, exclusion from healthcare professionals, confusion over their role as father and partner, and feeling as if they were a forgotten entity.
Fathers also felt like they were trying to battle emotional challenges themselves, witnessing a lack of fatherhood-focused support, and antenatal programmes not addressing fathers’ needs within the transition.
The work found that there is a need for greater attention on fathers’ experiences of paternal perinatal support/programmes through research and practice to inform future specialised support.
Healthcare policy makers and commissioners should recognise and seek to address father’s mental health and wellbeing. Health providers should ensure adequate time is allocated to acknowledge fathers’ wellbeing within perinatal appointments, helping reduce stigma.
Who is this evidence useful for?
The public, as well as professionals and practitioners, policy makers and commissioners.
What is the issue?
This research addresses the health/social care issue around fathers’ mental health within the perinatal period and the lack of support addressing fathers support needs currently globally, potentially impacting the whole family dynamic.
Research summary
- Development of scoping review objectives
- Searches across multiple databases of relevant literature globally
- Screening of literature (removed if not relevant)
- Analysis (thematic synthesis) and development of themes relating to review objectives
This research acknowledges current concerns and experiences of fathers’ support across multiple studies globally. The findings also recognise partial cultural differences between differing studies from westernised and non-westernised populations.
The key findings
- Fathers had confusion over their role and concerns around balancing culturally specific fatherhood expectations, for example provider and protector.
- Fathers felt forgotten within the perinatal experience
- Fathers felt isolated within their emotional struggles and were desperate for peer validation.
- Fathers were worried about their diminished partner relationship, and frustrated with partners maternal gatekeeping.
Why is this important?
These findings are important because they add to the evidence base that can lead to support the need for specialised support for fathers within the perinatal period, and the removal of stigma and taboo associated with fathers’ mental health.
How were people involved in this work?
Patient and public involvement workshops were incorporated within the analysis stages of the research, where four fathers contributed their perspective to the research.
Recommendations for policy/practice
Healthcare policy makers and commissioners should recognise and seek to address fathers’ mental health and wellbeing within the perinatal period to support future service provision and father-focused interventions.
It is recommended that sufficient clinical guidelines are developed for the provision of paternal perinatal mental health support.
Future recommendations of co-production where fathers who have experienced paternal perinatal mental health challenges are given the opportunity to contribute to healthcare and service decision-making, and co-design health information.
What happens next?
Further research is now underway, including a primary qualitative data study collecting interview data from fathers and practitioners within the North East, to identify experiences of paternal perinatal mental health support and care and recommendations for future interventional development.
Get in touch to find out more
Ashleigh Watkins
a.watkins3@newcastle.ac.uk
Read the full research paper
This work is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) North East and North Cumbria (NENC).
Lead author Ashleigh Watkins is undertaking a funded PhD studentship with the NIHR ARC NENC Supporting Children and Families Theme, and this work is part of her PhD.