title: Depression and anxiety in expectant and new fathers: longitudinal findings in Australian men.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite growing interest in men's perinatal mental health, we still know little about whether becoming a new father is associated with increases in psychological distress.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To use prospective longitudinal data to investigate whether becoming a first-time expectant (partner pregnant) and/or new father (child <1 year) is associated with increases in depression and anxiety.
  
  
  METHODS
  Men were aged 20-24 years at baseline (n = 1162). Levels of depression and anxiety were measured at four time points over 12 years. Over this time, 88 men were expectant fathers, 108 men were new fathers and 626 men remained non-fathers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Longitudinal mixed models showed no significant increase in depression or anxiety as a function of expectant or new fatherhood, as compared with pre-fatherhood levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that, generally, expectant and new fathers are not at greater risk of depression or anxiety. Future epidemiological research should continue to identify men who are most (and least) at risk to focus resources and assistance most effectively.
authors: Liana S. Leach, PhD, Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, The Australian National University, Canberra; Andrew Mackinnon, PhD, Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, The University of Melbourne, Parkville; Carmel Poyser, BSc, MSc, Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, The Australian National University, Canberra; A. Kate Fairweather-Schmidt, PhD, Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, The Australian National University, Canberra and School of Psychology, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.
authors: Liana S
authors: LS
authors: Leach
authors: Liana S. Leach, PhD, Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, The Australian National University, Canberra; Andrew Mackinnon, PhD, Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, The University of Melbourne, Parkville; Carmel Poyser, BSc, MSc, Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, The Australian National University, Canberra; A. Kate Fairweather-Schmidt, PhD, Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, The Australian National University, Canberra and School of Psychology, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Mackinnon
authors: Liana S. Leach, PhD, Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, The Australian National University, Canberra; Andrew Mackinnon, PhD, Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, The University of Melbourne, Parkville; Carmel Poyser, BSc, MSc, Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, The Australian National University, Canberra; A. Kate Fairweather-Schmidt, PhD, Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, The Australian National University, Canberra and School of Psychology, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.
authors: Carmel
authors: C
authors: Poyser
authors: Liana S. Leach, PhD, Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, The Australian National University, Canberra; Andrew Mackinnon, PhD, Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, The University of Melbourne, Parkville; Carmel Poyser, BSc, MSc, Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, The Australian National University, Canberra; A. Kate Fairweather-Schmidt, PhD, Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, The Australian National University, Canberra and School of Psychology, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.
authors: A Kate
authors: AK
authors: Fairweather-Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D020958:Australian Capital Territory / Q000453:epidemiology; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult