Fathers’ mental health plays a pivotal role in children’s emotional and cognitive development. We know little about how the particular stressors associated with new fatherhood contribute to the onset or re-emergence of depression and anxiety disorders in men.

This project investigates the impact of being an expectant or new father on men’s mental health in Australia. A secondary aim of the project is to investigate the predisposing and concurrent factors that may contribute to the development or maintenance of mental health problems in expecting or new fathers.  Data has been drawn from two population-based Australian longitudinal surveys.  Funding for this project has been provided by beyondblue.