They Cry Too: Why Men Face Postpartum Depression
New research shows that one in ten men experiences postpartum depression. The peak of the crisis occurs closer to the end of the child's first year. Scientists from Sweden and China analyzed data from fathers for 2003-2021. By the end of the first year, the frequency of depressive disorders in fathers increases by about 30 percent. Main causes: sleep deprivation, financial responsibility, reduced emotional intimacy. If the mother has postpartum depression, the risk for the father approaches 50 percent.
New research shows that one in ten men experiences postpartum depression, contrary to the common belief that this disorder only affects women. According to large-scale studies involving more than a million people, about ten percent of fathers suffer from this condition. The peak of the crisis does not occur immediately after the baby's arrival, but closer to the end of its first year of life. Specialists from Sweden and China analyzed data from fathers with an average age of about 34 years for the period from 2003 to 2021. It turned out that during pregnancy and in the first months after the child's birth, depression rates in men even decrease compared to the period before conception. However, over time, this protective barrier disappears, and by the end of the child's first year, the frequency of depressive and stress disorders in fathers increases by about 30 percent. Experts highlight key causes: chronic sleep deprivation, increased financial responsibility, reduced emotional intimacy with the partner. An additional risk factor is biology: a decrease in testosterone levels against the background of rising cortisol and estrogen makes the psyche more vulnerable to anxiety. If postpartum depression develops in the mother, the likelihood of the father facing a similar problem approaches 50 percent. In men, symptoms differ from women's: instead of sadness or tears, depression often masks itself as irritability, outbursts of anger, intolerance, or a desire to spend less time at home. Others often attribute these manifestations to ordinary fatigue. Physical signs include headaches, constant fatigue, digestive problems, and loss of interest in favorite activities. Main risk factors: a history of anxiety or depressive disorders, postpartum depression in the partner, severe lack of sleep, lack of support from loved ones, strained relationships in the couple, financial difficulties and work overload, health complications in the child or premature birth. Due to social stereotypes, men often hide their experiences. If symptoms persist for more than two weeks, specialists recommend seeking professional help.