Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Associations between paternal depression and behaviour problems in children of 4–6 years

  • ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION
  • Published:
European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Maternal depression is associated with adverse child development, however little is known about paternal depression and child outcome. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of paternal depression and assess its association with abnormal child behaviours among 4–6 year olds. Parents of 4–6 years olds were recruited via general practices and completed measures on child behaviour (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire), and other covariates. The association of major and other paternal depressive syndrome with mother reported child behaviour was analysed. Eight percent (29/365) of fathers had depression (3.3 and 4.77% a major and other depressive syndrome, respectively). Major but not other paternal depressive syndrome was associated with an 8 and 36 times greater likelihood of child prosocial behaviour problems and peer problems respectively.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Achenbach TM, McConaughy SH, Howell CT (1987) Child/adolescent behavioral and emotional problems: implications of cross-informant correlations for situational specificity. Psychol Bull 101:213–232

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Amato PR, Rivera F (1999) Paternal involvement and children’s behavior problems. J Marriage Fam 61:375–384

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Angst J, Gamma A, Gastpar M, Lepine JP, Mendlewicz J, Tylee A (2002) Gender differences in depression. Epidemiological findings from the European DEPRES I and II studies. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 252:201–209

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Ballard CG, Davis R, Cullen PC, Mohan RN, Dean C (1994) Prevalence of postnatal psychiatric morbidity in mothers and fathers. Br J Psychiatry 164:782–788

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Barbor TF, de la Fuente JR, Saunders J, Grant M (1989) The alcohol use disorders identification test: guidelines for the use in primary health care. World Health Organisation, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  6. Bigner JJ (1977) Attitudes toward fathering and father–child activity. Home Econ Res J 6:98–106

    Google Scholar 

  7. Black MM, Dubowitz H, Starr RHJ (1999) African American fathers in low income, urban families: development, behavior, and home environment of their three-year-old children. Child Dev 4:967–978

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Brugha T, Bebbington P, Tennant C, Hurry J (1985) The list of threatening experiences: a subset of 12 life event categories with considerable long-term contextual threat. Psychol Med 15:189–194

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Campbell SB (1995) Behavior problems in preschool children: a review of recent research. J Child Psychol Psychiatr 36:113–149

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Caplan HL, Cogill SR, Alexandra H, Robson KM, Katz R, Kumar R (1989) Maternal depression and the emotional development of the child. Br J Psychiatry 154:818–822

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Carro MG (1993) Postpartum depression and child development: an investigation of mothers and fathers as sources of risk and resilience. Dev Psychopathol 5:567–579

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Chilcoat HD, Breslau N (1997) Does psychiatric history bias mothers’ reports? An application of a new analytic approach. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 36:971–979

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Compas BE, Phares V, Banez GA, Howell DC (1991) Correlates of internalizing and externalizing behavior problems: perceived competence, causal attributions, and parental symptoms. J Abnorm Child Psychol 19:197–218

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Craig TK, Bialas I, Hodson S, Cox AD (2004) Intergenerational transmission of somatization behaviour: 2. Observations of joint attention and bids for attention. Psychol Med 34:199–209

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Cummings EM, Davies PT (1994) Maternal depression and child development. J Child Psychol Psychiatr 35:73–112

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Dave S, Nazareth I, Sherr L, Senior R (2005) The Association of Paternal Mood and Infant Temperament: a pilot study. Br J Dev Psychol 23:609–621

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Downey G, Coyne JC (1990) Children of depressed parents: an integrative review. Psychol Bull 108:50–76

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Duhig AM, Renk K, Epstein MK, Phares V (2000) Interparental agreement on internalizing, externalizing, and total behavior problems: a meta-analysis. Clin Psychol Sci Pract 7:435–453

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Edwards P, Roberts I, Clarke M, DiGuiseppi C, Pratap S, Wentz R, Kwan I (2002) Increasing response rates to postal questionnaires: systematic review. BMJ 324:1183

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Eisenberg N, Fabes RA, Spinrad TL (2006) Prosocial behaviour. Eisenberg, N. social, emotional and personality development. 6th edn, (3), pp 646–718. Wiley, New York. Handbook of child psychology. Damon W, Lerner RM. Ref Type: Serial (Book, Monograph)

  21. Flouri E (2005) Father’s involvement and psychological adjustment in Indian and White British Secondary School Age Children. Child Adolesc Ment Health 10:32–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Goodman R (1997) The strength and difficulties questionnaire: a research note. J Child Psychol Psychiatr 38:581–586

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Goodman R (2001) Psychometric properties of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 40:1337–1345

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Hagekull B, Bohlin G (1992) Prevalence studies of problematic behaviors in four-year-olds. Scand J Psychol 33:359–369

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Hay DF, Payne A, Chadwick A (2004) Peer relations in childhood. J Child Psychol Psychiatr 45:84–108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Jacob T, Leonard KE (1986) Psychosocial functioning in children of alcoholic fathers, depressed fathers and control fathers. J Stud Alcohol 47:373–380

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Jacob T, Johnson SL (1997) Parent–child interaction among depressed fathers and mothers: impact on child functioning. J Fam Psychol 11:391–409

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Kane P, Garber J (2004) The relations among depression in fathers, children’s psychopathology, and father-child conflict: a meta-analysis. Clin Psychol Rev 24:339–360

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Knafo A, Plomin R (2006) Parental discipline and affection and children’s prosocial behavior: genetic and environmental links. J Pers Soc Psychol 90:147–164

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Koestner R, Franz C, Weinberger J (1990) The family origins of empathic concern: a 26-year longitudinal study. J Pers Soc Psychol 58:709–717

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Kurstjens S, Wolke D (2001) Effects of maternal depression on cognitive development of children over the first 7 years of life. J Child Psychol Psychiatr 42:623–636

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Laird RD, Pettit GS, Dodge KA, Bates JE (2005) Peer relationship antecedents of delinquent behavior in late adolescence: is there evidence of demographic group differences in developmental processes? Dev Psychopathol 17:127–144

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Lamb MEE (1997) The role of the father in child development. Wiley, Chichester

    Google Scholar 

  34. Lewis C (1997) Fathers and preschoolers. In: Lamb MEE (ed) The role of the father in child development. 3rd edn. Wiley, Chichester, pp 121–142

    Google Scholar 

  35. Lewis C, Lamb ME (2003) Fathers’ influences on children’s development: the evidence from two-parent families. Eur J Psychol Educ 18:211–228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Loeber R, Hay D (1997) Key issues in the development of aggression and violence from childhood to early adulthood. Annu Rev Psychol 48:371–410

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Lovejoy MC, Graczyk PA, O’Hare E, Neuman G (2000) Maternal depression and parenting behavior: a meta-analytic review. Clin Psychol Rev 20:561–592

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Luoma I, Koivisto AM, Tamminen T (2004) Fathers’ and mothers’ perceptions of their child and maternal depressive symptoms. Nord J Psychiatry 58:205–211

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. MacDonald K, Parke RD (1984) Bridging the gap: parent–child play interaction and peer interactive competence. Child Dev 55:1265–1277

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Mackey WC (1985) Fathering behaviors: the dynamics of the man–child bond. Plenum, New York

    Google Scholar 

  41. Marchand JF, Hock E (1998) The relation of problem behaviors in preschool children to depressive symptoms in mothers and fathers. J Genet Psychol Child Behav Anim Behav Comp Psychol 159:353–366

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. McBride BA, Mills G (1993) A comparison of mother and father involvement with their preschool age children. Early Child Res Q 8:457–477

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Mitsis EM, McKay KE, Schulz KP, Newcorn JH, Halperin JM (2000) Parent–teacher concordance for DSM-IV attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in a clinic-referred sample. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 39:308–313

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Murray L, Cooper P (1997) Postpartum depression and child development. Guilford, New York

    Google Scholar 

  45. Najman JM, Williams GM, Nikles J, Spence S, Bor W, O’Callaghan M, Le Brocque R, Andersen MJ (2000) Mothers’ mental illness and child behavior problems: cause–effect association or observation bias? J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 39:592–602

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Ohayon MM, Priest RG, Guilleminault C, Caulet M (1999) The prevalence of depressive disorders in the United Kingdom. Biol Psychiatry 45:300–307

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Paquette D (2004) Theorizing the father–child relationship: mechanisms and developmental outcomes. Hum Dev 47:193–219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Parke RD (1996) Fatherhood. Harvard University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  49. Parke R (2004) Fathering and children’s peer relationships. In: Lamb MEE (ed) The role of the father in child development. 4th edn. Wiley, NJ, pp 307–340

    Google Scholar 

  50. Penner LA, Finkelstein MA (1998) Dispositional and structural determinants of volunteerism. J Pers Soc Psychol 74:525–537

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Phares V, Compas BE, Howell DC (1989) Perspectives on child behavior problems: comparisons of children’s self-reports with parent and teacher reports. Psychol Assess 1:68–71

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Ramchandani P, Stein A, Evans J, O’Connor TG (2005) Paternal depression in the postnatal period and child development: a prospective population study. Lancet 365:2201–2205

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Roopnarine JL, Mounts NS (1985) Mother–child and father–child play. Early Child Dev Care 20:157–169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Rutherford E, Mussen P (1968) Generosity in nursery school boys. Child Dev 39:754–765

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Sandberg JF, Hofferth SL (2006) Changes in children’s time with parents: United States 1981–1997. Demography 38:436

    Google Scholar 

  56. Shannon JD, Tamis-LeMonda CS, London K, Cabrera N (2002) Beyond rough and tumble: low-income fathers’ interactions and children’s cognitive development at 24 months. Parenting: Sci Pract 2:77–104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. Sherr L, Dave S, Lucas P, Senior R, Nazareth I (2006) A feasibility study on recruiting fathers of young children to examine the impact of paternal depression on child development. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 36:295–309

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Singleton N, Bumpstead R, O’Brien M, Lee A, Meltzer H (2001). Psychiatric morbidity among adults living in private households. National Statistics, vol 154. The Stationary Office, London. Ref Type: Report

    Google Scholar 

  59. Spanier GB (1976) Measuring dyadic adjustment: new scales for assessing the quality of marriage and similar dyads. J Marriage Fam 38:15–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  60. Spitzer RL, Kroenke K, Williams JB (1999) Validation and utility of a self-report version of PRIME-MD: the PHQ primary care study. Primary care evaluation of mental disorders. Patient health questionnaire. J Am Med Assoc 282:1737–1744

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Tamis-LeMonda CS, Shannon JD, Cabrera NJ, Lamb ME (2004) Fathers and mothers at play with their 2- and 3-year-olds: contributions to language and cognitive development. Child Dev 75:1806–1820

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Townsend P, Phillimore P, Beattie A (1988) Health and deprivation: inequality and the north. Croom Helm, London

    Google Scholar 

  63. Treutler CM, Epkins CC (2003) Are discrepancies among child, mother, and father reports on children’s behavior related to parents’ psychological symptoms and aspects of parent–child relationships? J Abnorm Child Psychol 31:13–27

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Vandell DL (2000) Parents, peer groups, and other socializing influences. Dev Psychopathol 36:699–710

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  65. Webster-Stratton C (1988) Mothers’ and fathers’ perceptions of child deviance: roles of parent and child behaviors and parent adjustment. J Consult Clin Psychol 56:909–915

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. Whiffen VE, Gotlib IH (1989) Infants of postpartum depressed mothers: temperament and cognitive status. J Abnorm Psychol 98:274–279

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. Woodward LJ, Fergusson DM (2000) Childhood peer relationship problems and later risks of educational under-achievement and unemployment. J Child Psychol Psychiatr 41:191–201

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  68. Woollett A, White DG, Lyon ML (1982) Studies involving fathers: subject refusal, attrition and sampling bias. Curr Psychol Rev 2:193–212

    Article  Google Scholar 

  69. Yogman MW, Kindlon D, Earls F (1995) Father involvement and cognitive/behavioral outcomes of preterm infants. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 34:58–66

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The study was funded by the Royal College of General Practitioners and the North Central London Research Consortium (NoCLoR). We would like to thank the families involved and the general practices for their participation in the study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. General Practice Research Framework, Medical Research Council, Stephenson House, 158-160 North Gower Street, London, NW1 2ND, UK

    Shreya Davé & Irwin Nazareth

  2. Division of Population Health, University College London, (Hampstead Campus), Rowland Hill Street, London, NW3 2PF, UK

    Lorraine Sherr & Irwin Nazareth

  3. Leopold Muller Department of Child and Family Mental Health, University College London, (Hampstead Campus), Rowland Hill Street, London, NW3 2PF, UK

    Rob Senior

Authors
  1. Shreya Davé
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lorraine Sherr
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Rob Senior
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Irwin Nazareth
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shreya Davé.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Davé, S., Sherr, L., Senior, R. et al. Associations between paternal depression and behaviour problems in children of 4–6 years. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 17, 306–315 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-007-0672-6

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-007-0672-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation