A qualitative exploration of depressive symptomatology involving fathers who experience depression during their child's first 1000 days of life: Implications for practice, research, policy and intervention development.

Abstract

Background: Paternal depression is a serious mental health concern, yet there is a dearth of evidence to advance understanding around this phenomenon with existing evidence relating primarily to maternal experiences of depression. This qualitative research explores the subjective nature of paternal depressive symptomatology and the uniqueness of symptoms in relation to the fathers’ experience during the first 1000 days of a child’s life (from conception to 2 years after birth).
Design: This qualitative study explored the experiences of depressive symptomatology in 13 fathers aged 24-46 years who had experienced depression during their child’s first 1000 days of life. Fathers were included if they had suffered from depression during their child’s first 1000 days of life and had either a pregnant partner or a child under 2 years. Fathers were recruited via social media platforms and directed to a research website which housed the participant information, policies and procedures, and online consent forms.
Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted over the telephone, via WhatsApp video call or via WhatsApp messenger. Interview audio was recorded and transcribed verbatim, WhatsApp interview scripts were downloaded to a Word document. Mousakas’ (1994) modification of the Van Kaam method of analysis of phenomenological data was used to analyse the data.
Findings and Discussions: Three dominant themes emerged from the data highlighting the physical symptoms, psychological symptoms and reduced

social functioning experienced by fathers who experience depression within the context of the first 1000 days of their child’s life. It has been conceptualised that the way fathers process the birth of a baby (or subsequent baby) depends on several factors, some of which may predispose fathers to depression during this life changing event. During this transitional period, fathers may find themselves more vulnerable to certain triggers which provoke depressogenic beliefs leading to biopsychosocial depressive symptoms. The symptoms of paternal depression appear to further entrench depressogenic beliefs, reinforcing the cycle of depression. Cognitive theories of depression, the biopsychosocial model of health, and gender theories have further aided the understanding of paternal manifestations of paternal depression leading to the development of a conceptual model of paternal perinatal depression. Implications for practice, research, policy and intervention are also considered.
Conclusion: Fathers who develop depression during the first 1000 days of their child’s life experience a range of biopsychosocial symptoms that are interrelated and negatively interact with depressogenic beliefs to maintain the depression cycle. All fathers require access to a universal screening programme so symptoms of depression can be detected for preventative measures to be offered. Offering all fathers screening could prevent risk of harm to men, including suicide risk, and would reduce risk of harm to women and children. Children and family services need to be adequately funded so they are able to effectively support both parents during this life changing period.

Date of Award	2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Edge Hill University
Supervisor	JULIE ABAYOMI (Director of Studies)