Why Dad’s Mental Health Matters for the Whole Family

In pop culture, dads are often portrayed as strong, sensitive, and stoic. But in reality, fathers can struggle with depression — and as new research from Rutgers Health shows, when paternal depression goes undiagnosed, it can have long-term effects on children.

A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, led by Kristine Schmitz, Assistant Professor of Paediatrics at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, found that children exposed to paternal depression at kindergarten entry were more likely to have behavioural difficulties and poor social skills by age nine.

“We need to consider depression in both parents, not just mothers,” said Schmitz.

“Depression is treatable, and to support the whole family, paediatricians must start talking with dads about it and developing father-focused interventions that meet their needs.”

Between 8% and 13% of fathers in the U.S. experience some form of depression during their child’s early years, and this figure rises to 50% when mothers also suffer from postpartum depression. Yet little research has explored the effects of paternal depression beyond the postnatal period.

To address this, Schmitz and colleagues analysed data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study, which follows a national birth cohort. They compared information from 1,422 fathers and their children, assessing depressive symptoms when the children were five and teacher-reported behaviours when the children were nine.

“Kindergarten entry is an important developmental milestone, and adversities faced at that time can lead to poorer engagement and behaviours in grade school that may persist or magnify through middle and high school,”

the researchers wrote.

The study found a clear link: children whose fathers reported depressive symptoms at age five were more likely to display restlessness, anger, defiance, and lower self-esteem by age nine.

Schmitz explained that depression can make parenting more difficult and reduce emotional support, while also contributing to conflict at home. This is the first population-based U.S. study to definitively link paternal depression with child behaviour in school.

While the findings are concerning, Schmitz stresses that early intervention can make a real difference. “As parents, we can model that when we struggle, we reach out and get help,” she said. “That’s a lesson children will carry for a lifetime.”