January 7, 2013 (USA TODAY) -- The mental health of a child's
mother during pregnancy is widely considered a risk factor for
emotional and behavioral problems later in the child's life. Now
a new study finds that the father's mental health during the
pregnancy also plays a role. The study of nearly 32,000 children
in Norway, reported today in Pediatrics, is the largest yet to
suggest that children's risk for mental health problems may be
identified early on by examining prenatal mental health of the
fathers. It found that kids whose fathers scored high in
psychological distress, depression and anxiety at week 17 or 18
of the baby's gestation had higher levels of emotional and
behavioral difficulties at age 3, including disruptive behavior,
anxiety and problems getting along with other children.
Information was collected from fathers who answered a screening
questionnaire about their mental health status during the
pregnancy. Mothers later answered questions about their
children's development and difficulties.