When fathers compensate for the limitations of depressed mothers, the child's risk of problem behaviours may be reduced. Its been seen that when mothers suffer from depression, their children are more likely to develop behavioural problems. But amongst kids whose fathers are deeply involved in their lives, the risks of these behaviour problems are reduced to a marked extent. Researchers at Saint Louis University conducted a study following 6,552 mother/child pairs from 1992 to 2002. At the start of the study, mothers answered standard questions on their depression symptoms. The children also answered questions about their fathers' involvement in their lives, including whether they felt close to their father, whether he talked to them about things that "really matter," and whether he was there for important events in their lives. The children's behaviour problems were assessed every two years. It was found that although mothers' depression was related to increasing behaviour problems in the child, this was not the case among children who said their fathers were highly involved in their lives. Fathers who were close to their children were able to buffer them against the effects of their mothers' depression. A father's active and positive involvement can shield his child against the effects of maternal depression. Therefore, besides treating a mother's depression, one should also encourage fathers to stay involved in their children's lives.
Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine,
July 2007