Behaviors In Parents Linked To Dads With Depression

You would think that when talking about depression in parents the first thing that would come to mind is the mother, but actually fathers with symptoms of depression can also produce negative affects on a child's mental heath and development.  A the recent study, "Fathers' Depression Related to Positive and Negative Behaviors With 1-Year-Old-Children," produced in the April edition of Pediatrics that depression in fathers was connected with certain aspects of parenting behaviors talked about at well-child visits. Date from 1,746 fathers and of 1 year old children proved that 7 percent of the fathers had depression. Next to non depressed fathers, depressed fathers were 4 times more likely to report hitting their children and less likely to read to their children. On the other hand mainly depressed and non depressed fathers are to said to play games regulatory and sing songs with them, assuming that these activities may be more normal behaviors for fathers than reading. Since 77 percent of depressed fathers reported speaking to their child's doctor in the prior year, trips to the pediatrician may provide a chance to talk about specific behaviors and refer fathers who seem depressed to seek appropriate treatment.