Some new dads struggle, study finds
It’s tougher to spot, but postpartum depression can also affect men
Like many fathers, Adam Elmaghraby enjoys spending time outdoors with his daughter.
On weekends, he takes the 3year-old to a farmers market, sharing his love of food with her and teaching her about fruits and vegetables.
Elmaghraby especially appreciates this time with his daughter because his entry into fatherhood was difficult. A few months after her birth, he struggled with bouts of paralyzing anxiety and depression.
“Shortly after my daughter was born, I started feeling anxious. My mind would swirl, and I felt out of control. I didn’t have enough time for myself, parenting and my professional life,” he said.
Like many new parents, Elmaghraby struggled to adjust to the child-care responsibilities and sleep deprivation that a baby brings. As his mood worsened, he started to blame parenthood.
But it took him nearly a year to reach out for help. Once he saw a doctor, he was diagnosed with anxiety and depression, the two most commonly diagnosed mental illnesses. However, Elmaghraby believes he was actually suffering from the same mental-health concern that affects up to15 per cent of women each year — postpartum depression (PPD).
Although PPD mostly affects new mothers, recent studies have found that men might also suffer from the illness. And, according to one research study, hormonal changes could be partly to blame.
The study, published in the journal Hormones and Behavior, found a correlation between testosterone levels and symptoms of paternal PPD. Using a saliva sample, the researchers measured each father’s testosterone levels. They discovered that those with dipping levels of the hormone were more likely to feel depressed.
“Our findings suggest a potential biological and hormonal correlate of depression during the postpartum period,” the study’s author, Darby Saxbe, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Southern California, said in an interview.
Symptoms of PPD can include feelings of irritability and sadness, anxiety, insomnia and, in extreme cases, thoughts of selfharm.
For women, postpartum depression is the No. 1 complication of childbirth, affecting 10 to 15 per cent of new mothers each year. A 2010 meta-analysis of several studies also suggests that as many as 10 per cent of dads also suffer from this psychological disorder.
Even though obstetricians and pediatricians monitor pregnant women and mothers for postpartum depression, new fathers are rarely screened, making it less likely that they’re diagnosed and treated.
“Postpartum depression in men is not so easy to spot,” says Will Courtenay, a psychotherapist in Oakland, Calif., who diagnoses and treats dads suffering from PPD.
Elmaghraby was never officially diagnosed with PPD, even after seeing a psychotherapist. “My therapist never addressed the possibility of postpartum depression with me. Luckily, a few friends mentioned that the illness could also affect men,” he said.
Just learning that fathers could suffer from PPD made Elmaghraby feel less alone and more willing to talk about his experience openly.
Although studies show that untreated maternal depression can affect mother-and-baby bonding, paternal depression can also influence a child’s development.
“We know depression can impact the father-child relationship, as well as children’s future behaviour,” said Sheehan Fisher, a clinical psychologist and researcher at Northwestern University.
According to Fisher, kids who grow up with depressed dads may have a harder time coping with negative emotions such as anger, anxiety and sadness. He said these children may be more likely to “act out” their feelings by misbehaving and becoming aggressive.
While biology and hormonal shifts may affect the mental health of new parents, social pressures can as well.
Many of today’s dads are stepping into new parenting territory, becoming more active parents than fathers of previous generations. And because of this, many feel unprepared.
“Because dads are more involved in parenting, it challenges their identities as men,” said Bruce Linton, a psychotherapist in Berkeley, Calif., He said today’s dads may experience more depression and anxiety because they’re uncertain how to parent effectively.
But unlike mothers, who often rely on one another for support and guidance, fathers may be less open about their parenting struggles, making it challenging to find support.
“For me, the hardest part was being able to say that I needed help,” Elmaghraby said.
Individual psychotherapy is usually recommended for postpartum depression, but peer support may also be helpful, which is why Linton began the Father’s Forum, a support group for new dads.
“As fathers, we don’t always receive the same cultural ‘hooray’ as mothers, and that’s OK,” he said.
“Still, we should examine and honour what fatherhood means to us. Stepping into parenthood is humbling work, and it’s important to ask for support along the way.”
“Because dads are more involved in parenting, it challenges their identities as men.” BRUCE LINTON PSYCHOTHERAPIST