Risk factors of paternal perinatal depression during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan

Abstract

Purpose

The study aims to investigate risk factors of paternal perinatal depression during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

We conducted an online cross-sectional study of 473 prenatal fathers and 1246 postnatal fathers in August 2021. We applied a modified Poisson regression to estimate relative risk ratios of possible factors for paternal perinatal depression (measured by Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale), sequentially introducing the following factors into the model: individual factors, interpersonal factors, obstetric/pediatric factors, and service utilization factors.

Results

Prenatal fathers with the following risk factors were at an increased risk for having depressive symptoms: adverse childhood experiences (risk ratio; RR 1.61), past depression (RR 1.63), fear of COVID-19 (RR 2.09), lower social support (RR 1.91), low family resources (RR 1.95), and intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization (RR 1.29). Postnatal fathers having the following risk factors were at an increased risk for having depressive symptoms: past depression (RR 1.67), fear of COVID-19 (RR 1.26), low family resources (RR 1.85), IPV victimization. (RR 1.18), and preterm birth (RR 1.18).

Conclusion

The study showed risk factors such as past history of depression, high fear of COVID-19, low family functionality, and IPV victimization were associated with perinatal depressive symptoms. The findings should contribute to future directions of interventions for paternal perinatal mental health.

Keywords:

• Paternal depression
• prenatal depression
• postnatal depression
• perinatal mental health
• fathers

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by Ready for COVID-19 Relief Fund [grant number: 5th period 2nd term 001]; the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI Grants, [grant number: 21H04856; 21K21131].