A large-scale study of more than one million fathers in Sweden identified a delayed surge in mental health diagnoses during the first year of a child’s life. Cases of depression and stress-related disorders rose by over 30% toward the end of that year after initially dipping during pregnancy and the early postpartum period.
Estimates suggest that about one in ten fathers experiences postpartum depression, with symptoms peaking roughly a year after their child is born. Researchers argue that focusing solely on the earliest postpartum period risks missing a substantial portion of paternal mental health challenges that emerge as routines settle, sleep deprivation accumulates, workplace pressures return, and relationship dynamics adjust to changed family roles.
The study noted that depression among fathers is associated with an elevated risk of depression in their children, underscoring potential intergenerational effects. The patterns point to a complex transition into fatherhood that includes both positive changes and new stressors—such as deteriorating sleep quality and strain on partner relationships—that may nudge families into “survival mode.” This period can coincide with a continued concentration of attention on the mother and infant, which may leave fathers’ needs less visible even as pressures mount.
The research was led by teams at Karolinska Institutet and Sichuan University.
19 years of data
Researchers analyzed new psychiatric diagnoses from one year before pregnancy until the child turned one, covering births from 2003 to 2021. Findings indicate that the commonly observed early postnatal decline in diagnoses does not hold as the first year progresses. The researchers described the late increase as unexpected and called for more attention to warning signs in fathers long after birth.
The research also tracked disorder-specific trends. Diagnoses of anxiety and substance abuse disorders generally returned to their pre-pregnancy levels by one year after the baby’s birth.
Educational background emerged as a persistent factor: fathers with lower levels of education had consistently higher risks of psychiatric disorders before, during, and after their partner’s pregnancy.
In an interview with New York Post, medical director Khatiya Moon said that while child birth brings with it great pressure, changes in the mental health of fathers' are often not in focus.
Experts involved in the research emphasized that while postpartum depression is widely recognized in new mothers, fathers’ well-being is also critical for the health of the entire family and warrants more systematic attention.
The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.