Men's health status during pregnancy and early fatherhood

Abstract

The findings in this study of 147 men agreed with earlier research that health status declines over the first 8 months of fatherhood. The study extends previous work in that causes of this decline were tested. Empirical respecified models predicting health perception during pregnancy, early postpartum 1, 4, and 8 months were able to predict from 20 to 60% of the variance. These models were substantively more powerful than the hypothesized theoretical model that was tested, which explained from 12 to 38% of the variance. At all time periods there was a link between negative life events and a direct or indirect predictor of health perception. Other variables that consistently entered the models with either direct or indirect links were self-esteem, mastery, and either depression or anxiety. The empirical respecified models showed moderate to strong predictive power and provide a base for future model testing and subsequent intervention studies.

The transition to parenthood: Stress, resources, and gender differences in a Chinese society

“…This conclusion is corroborative of our previous finding that the impact of parenthood transition sustained even 6 months after the child was born (Lu, 2002(Lu, , 2004. Incorporating findings by other Western researchers (e.g., Furgusson, Horwood, & Thorpe, 1996;Ferketich & Mercer, 1989), we can conclude that the stressful impact of parenthood is felt before and after the child is born, immediately, and over a considerable period.…”

“…Ferketich and Mercer (1989) found that men's perception of their health was significantly poorer at 8 months postnatal than during their partners' pregnancy. Furthermore, Quill, Lipkin, and Lamb (1984) found that men visited doctors more in the year after their children were born than during their partner's pregnancy.…”

A critical review of the Couvade syndrome: the pregnant male

“…The investigators concluded that first-time expectant men were no more susceptible than those with children. However, Clinton (1986); Condon (1987);Ferketich and Mercer, (1989) collectively demonstrated statistically significant positive correlations between occurrence of the syndrome and the number of previous children. The stage of pregnancy might be important, as a later study by Sizaret 'et al' (1991) found that during the first trimester of pregnancy a higher proportion of primiparous men had…”

A Longitudinal Study of Paternal Mental Health During Transition to Fatherhood as Young Adults

“…8 Children of depressed fathers are at risk for later psychiatric disorders, 3 poorer language and reading development, 9 and increased risks of behavior problems, including peer problems, conduct problems, and poorer prosocial behaviors across ages, than children of nondepressed fathers. 2,5 Although studies show a decline in young men' s physical health during the transition to fatherhood, [10][11][12] less is known about the mental health of fathers during the transition. Several social factors may be implicated.…”