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Low Paternal Postpartum Depression Buffers the Association between Maternal Prenatal Depression and Preschoolers' Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms

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Title: Low Paternal Postpartum Depression Buffers the Association between Maternal Prenatal Depression and Preschoolers' Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms
Language: English
Authors: Cláudia Silva Costa (ORCID 0009-0007-5214-0311), Tiago Miguel Pinto (ORCID 0000-0002-7581-8961), Tiffany Field, Bárbara Figueiredo (ORCID 0000-0002-8209-7445)
Source: Infant Mental Health Journal: Infancy and Early Childhood. 2026 47(1).
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 17
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Depression (Psychology), Mothers, Fathers, Perinatal Influences, Child Health, Preschool Children, Mental Health, Correlation, Parent Influence, Prenatal Influences, Anxiety, Foreign Countries
Geographic Terms: Portugal
Assessment and Survey Identifiers: Child Behavior Checklist
DOI: 10.1002/imhj.70070
ISSN: 0163-9641
1097-0355
Abstract: Examining the impact and interplay of maternal and paternal perinatal mental health problems enhances understanding of the etiology of mental health problems in early childhood. This study investigated associations between maternal and paternal prenatal (first trimester) and postnatal (3 and 30 months) anxiety and depression symptoms and preschoolers' internalizing and externalizing symptoms. The sample included 115 preschoolers and their parents (N = 230) recruited during the first trimester of pregnancy at a Portuguese health facility. Mothers and fathers completed anxiety and depression measures during the first trimester, at 3 and 30 months postpartum, and the Child Behavior Checklist 1.5-5 (CBCL) at 30 months. Multilevel linear models and moderation models were tested. Maternal depression symptoms in the first trimester, paternal depression symptoms at 3 months postpartum, and their interplay were prospectively associated with higher preschoolers' internalizing and externalizing scores at 30 months. When fathers reported low depression symptoms 3 months postpartum, mothers' depression symptoms during the first trimester were not associated with preschoolers' internalizing and externalizing scores at 30 months. This suggests that low paternal postnatal depression symptoms can buffer the adverse effect of maternal prenatal depression symptoms. Addressing maternal and paternal perinatal mental health could contribute to preventing preschoolers' internalizing and externalizing problems.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1493519
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Low Paternal Postpartum Depression Buffers the Association between Maternal Prenatal Depression and Preschoolers' Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cláudia+Silva+Costa%22">Cláudia Silva Costa</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0007-5214-0311">0009-0007-5214-0311</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tiago+Miguel+Pinto%22">Tiago Miguel Pinto</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7581-8961">0000-0002-7581-8961</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tiffany+Field%22">Tiffany Field</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bárbara+Figueiredo%22">Bárbara Figueiredo</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8209-7445">0000-0002-8209-7445</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Infant+Mental+Health+Journal%3A+Infancy+and+Early+Childhood%22"><i>Infant Mental Health Journal: Infancy and Early Childhood</i></searchLink>. 2026 47(1).
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  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
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  Data: 17
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Depression+%28Psychology%29%22">Depression (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mothers%22">Mothers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Fathers%22">Fathers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Perinatal+Influences%22">Perinatal Influences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+Health%22">Child Health</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preschool+Children%22">Preschool Children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mental+Health%22">Mental Health</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Correlation%22">Correlation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Parent+Influence%22">Parent Influence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Prenatal+Influences%22">Prenatal Influences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Anxiety%22">Anxiety</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Portugal%22">Portugal</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1002/imhj.70070
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  Data: Examining the impact and interplay of maternal and paternal perinatal mental health problems enhances understanding of the etiology of mental health problems in early childhood. This study investigated associations between maternal and paternal prenatal (first trimester) and postnatal (3 and 30 months) anxiety and depression symptoms and preschoolers' internalizing and externalizing symptoms. The sample included 115 preschoolers and their parents (N = 230) recruited during the first trimester of pregnancy at a Portuguese health facility. Mothers and fathers completed anxiety and depression measures during the first trimester, at 3 and 30 months postpartum, and the Child Behavior Checklist 1.5-5 (CBCL) at 30 months. Multilevel linear models and moderation models were tested. Maternal depression symptoms in the first trimester, paternal depression symptoms at 3 months postpartum, and their interplay were prospectively associated with higher preschoolers' internalizing and externalizing scores at 30 months. When fathers reported low depression symptoms 3 months postpartum, mothers' depression symptoms during the first trimester were not associated with preschoolers' internalizing and externalizing scores at 30 months. This suggests that low paternal postnatal depression symptoms can buffer the adverse effect of maternal prenatal depression symptoms. Addressing maternal and paternal perinatal mental health could contribute to preventing preschoolers' internalizing and externalizing problems.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1493519
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        Value: 10.1002/imhj.70070
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 17
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Depression (Psychology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mothers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Fathers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Perinatal Influences
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Child Health
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      – SubjectFull: Preschool Children
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      – SubjectFull: Mental Health
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      – SubjectFull: Correlation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Parent Influence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Prenatal Influences
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Anxiety
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      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Portugal
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      – SubjectFull: Child Behavior Checklist
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Low Paternal Postpartum Depression Buffers the Association between Maternal Prenatal Depression and Preschoolers' Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms
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            NameFull: Cláudia Silva Costa
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            NameFull: Tiago Miguel Pinto
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            NameFull: Tiffany Field
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            – TitleFull: Infant Mental Health Journal: Infancy and Early Childhood
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