The Correlation Between Paternal Postpartum Anxiety and Maternal Postpartum Anxiety and Depression: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The birth of a newborn is a major life transition for both mothers and fathers and is accompanied by substantial physical, hormonal, neurochemical, neurobiological, psychological, emotional, cognitive, and social changes. In addition to these individual adjustments, parents must renegotiate their identities and adapt to new familial roles. Together, these changes can increase vulnerability to psychological distress during the postnatal period [, , ]. Depression and anxiety are among the most common mental health concerns following childbirth and have been widely reported in both mothers and fathers [, , , ]. For fathers, the transition to parenthood presents specific challenges. The formation of a paternal identity, fears about fulfilling the parental role adequately, disruptions to daily routines, and responsibility for the family's financial security can all contribute to psychological strain [, ]. Reflecting these challenges, paternal anxiety is relatively common in the postnatal period, with prevalence rates of 25.4% at 3 months and 23.2% at 6 months after childbirth []. Paternal postpartum anxiety has been associated with adverse outcomes for fathers, mothers, and newborns. In fathers, it is linked to poorer psychological and physical health, reduced parenting confidence, strained social relationships, and lower quality of life. It may also increase stress, depressive symptoms, fatigue, family conflict, and functional impairment, while reducing perceived partner support. Importantly, anxiety in either parent can negatively affect the parent–child relationship and infant outcomes, including weight changes and emotional development. Evidence further suggests a direct association between paternal anxiety and anxiety symptoms in children [, , ].