title: Survey on examining prevalence of paternal anxiety and its risk factors in perinatal period in Hong Kong: a longitudinal study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is emerging evidence of the significance of paternal mental health problems among the expectant fathers during the antenatal and postnatal period. The present study aims at determining the prevalence of paternal perinatal anxiety and identifying its risk factors among the fathers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 622 expectant fathers were recruited in Hong Kong. The expectant fathers were assessed using standardized and validated psychological instruments on three time points including early pregnancy, late pregnancy and 6 week postnatal. Independent samples t-test, one way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation and multiple linear regression were used to examine the effect of hypothesized risk factors. Hierarchical multiple regression and mixed effect model were also conducted with potential confounding factors controlled for.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed that a significant proportion of expectant fathers experienced anxiety during the perinatal period. Low self-esteem and poor social support were found to be risk factors of paternal anxiety across pregnancy to postnatal period. Work-family conflict could significantly predict paternal anxiety in the pregnancy period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study points to the need for greater research and clinical attention to paternal anxiety, given that it is a highly prevalent problem and could be detrimental to their partner's well-being and children development. The present findings contributes to the theoretical understanding of the prevalence and risk factors of paternal perinatal anxiety and have implications for the design of effective identification, prevention, and interventions of these clinical problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. yvaineyw@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Y W
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. amlee@hku.hk.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. 1ayuchan@gmail.com.
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. dytfong@hku.hk.
authors.forename: D Y T
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. obsgyn@hku.hk.
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. leungKY1@ha.org.hk.
authors.forename: K Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.affiliation: National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore. tang.catherine@nus.edu.sg.
authors.forename: C S K
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D054526:Men's Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult