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Becoming a dad can be emotionally tough for any guy, but especially for young, first-time fathers. A new study finds that the first five years of parenthood — key attachment and bonding years for a child — may be the riskiest for young dads when it comes to developing depression.
Symptoms of depression increased on average by 68% over the first five years of fatherhood for men who were around 25 years old when they became fathers and lived with their children, according to the study published online Monday in the journal Pediatrics.
Researchers surveyed more than 10,000 over nearly 20 years into adulthood. “The depression screening asked ten questions that were indicators for someone for depression. Men in this age group – fathers who lived in the home with their children – were more likely to have symptoms of depression,” Grella said. The study was published in the journal Pediatrics.
The study did not cover causes of depression in fathers, but Grella suspects they may be the same as those that cause depression in mothers. “People are running on very little sleep. There’s a large lifestyle change – you feel more isolated, you don’t get to see your friends quite as frequently, and its definitely a financial change for families to adjust to.”
Agencies/Canadajournal
