Mental health after the birth of the first child – spill-over effects of partner`s depression

Mine Kühn , Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research
Sanna Kailaheimo-Lönnqvist, University of Helsinki
Mikko Myrskylä, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research and London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

Objective: This study examines whether partner’s depression increases the risk of individual’s own depression focusing on parents in the period transitioning to parenthood until ten years post-birth. Background: Research investigating parents’ mental health is contradictory and has not examined the role of the partner’s mental health. This is surprising as parents are likely to be particularly vulnerable to experiencing spill-over effects in mental health during the stressful period of parenting. The influence of life course contexts when examining the role of the partner’s mental health is also understudied. Methods: Using high-quality total population register data on the Finnish cohort born between 1977 and 1980, this study 1) examines the risk of antidepressant use for parents with a partner who has taken antidepressants around the period of birth and/or during the first then years post-birth, and 2) investigates timing-linked life course contexts by considering the number of children, the age of the youngest child, and the total length of being exposed to partner’s possible depression. Results: Partner’s antidepressant use increases the risk of individual’s own antidepressant use by 60% for women and 87% for men. This pattern remained unchanged after including controls. The total length of the partner’s antidepressant use decreased the risk of antidepressant use. Further analyses suggest that the age of the youngest child mediates this pattern. Conclusion: Understanding mechanisms of parental mental health is of crucial importance, not only for the individuals’ well-being, but also for the development of the child, and the stability of the family unit.

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 Presented in Session 34. Determinants of Depression