Health
The depression that develops in fathers of families is associated with the bad behavior of their offspring, scientists say. 6 percent of children whose parents do not suffer from depression have behavioral problems, and in families where fathers suffer from depression, 11 per cent of children have such problems.
“There are many articles about how maternal depression and mental health problems affect children, but new studies have tried to focus not on mothers, but on fathers, and We looked at how the father's mental state can affect the child,” says study author Dr. Michael Weitzman from the University of New York School of Medicine.
Scientists compared the role of mothers and found that 20 percent of children whose mothers suffer from depression behave badly, and if both parents are depressed, children with bad behavior are 25 percent.
A threatening problem
Too little attention has been paid to the influence of fathers on parenting, but this influence is not negligible. Depression has recently become one of the most serious problems not only in America but also around the world. Weizman recalled that world events are causing a large surge in depression in adults, and this problem is passed on from generation to generation, as it greatly affects children.
“The economic crisis, unemployment, warriors — all this does not contribute to people's mental health and has an impact on the younger generation,” Weizman said.
22,000 children from full families took part in the research (this also included children raised by stepfathers or stepmothers). Data was collected between 2004 and 2008. The researchers compiled specific questionnaires and went home with them, asking parents about their health and children's behavior.
It is not yet clear exactly how parental depression affects children's behavior, and research has not sought to determine whether one is a consequence or cause of the other. However, scientists have suggested that children's behavior problems can cause stress and affect the mental state of parents. However, this problem can be described as a “double-edged sword”.
By healing parents, we save children
According to the study authors, the importance of these results is that attention should be paid to both parents, not only mothers but also fathers, when it comes to depression. While the mother's role and influence are usually stronger, the father's role also needs attention. The researchers emphasized that, of course, not all fathers with mental problems have children misbehaving, but this does not negate the existence of the problem.