Study shows 13 percent of fathers suffer depression during partner’s pregnancy

It’s not just mothers who feel the baby blues when they are pregnant, fathers too feel the stress during this uncertain period of their lives. According to a study, expectant fathers, who may initially feel joy and excitement at the news of the pregnancy, may feel sad and worried later, reports the Daily Mail.

The study, carried out by experts at the McGill University in Canada, included 622 men in Quebec, who were observed for over a period of 18 months. These participants were given online questionnaires, which measured various factors like mood, physical activity, sleep quality, social support, marital adjustment, financial stress and demographics, during their partner’s third trimester.

It was discovered that around 13 percent of first-time fathers experienced depression during their partner’s pregnancy. This study project was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).