Previous research has found children whose mothers have depression are three to four times more likely to develop depression than children whose mothers are not depressed.
Less research, however, has explored the relationship between the father’s mental health and their children’s. “There is a gap in the literature,” says Senior author and head of the Curtin School of Population Health, Professor Rosa Alati. “We don’t look to the fathers enough.”
Separate research has suggested that genetics are responsible for 40 per cent of the risk for depression. How depression can affect a parent’s sensitivity toward the child and the security of the attachment can also play a role as can an increased risk of substance abuse or divorce resulting from the illness.
“It’s the usual nature/nurture debate,” says Alati. “It’s probably a combination of both … [but] it is not easy to disentangle genetic contributions to other life course contributions.”
https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/how-a-father-s-mental-wellbeing-affects-his-children-20230822-p5dyg1.html?btis=
