Parenting Research Centre | Mental Health of Fathers of Young Children

Mental Health of Fathers of Young Children

What factors are associated with mental wellbeing in fathers of young children and how do mental health difficulties in fathers impact on outcomes for children?

There is a large body of evidence about mothers’ wellbeing in the early parenting period, but little is known about fathers’ mental health during this time. This project will explore the extent to which fathers experience difficulties in the early parenting period and the relationship between fathers’ mental health and children’s social, emotional, behavioural and developmental outcomes.

Data from waves 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the nationally representative Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) will be used to explore father wellbeing in the early parenting period.