When parents are together, dads are well placed to recognise and support mothers who are experiencing depression in pregnancy. A father’s functioning as a support person is key, since depressed new mothers are more likely to turn to and receive support from their partner than from any other individual, including medical staff (Holopainen, 2002). 70 percent of new mothers turn to their partners for emotional support, compared with only 47 percent in the 1960s (GMTV survey, 2009).

In relation to conflict, dads are present in children’s lives. They are part of the conflict and must therefore be included in the solution. As we have seen, fathers’ parenting can be more severely affected by conflict: another reason to offer support.

Why dads?

(For reviews see Sarkadi et al, 2007; Flouri 2005; Pleck and Masciadrelli, 2004)

The importance of engaging with fathers

• More than 90 percent of fathers attend the birth (Dragonas et al., 1992) and the ultrasound scans (Alderdice et al., 2016)
• 77 percent of ‘lone’ mothers report that their children are having contact with their dad, with 25 percent having daily contact (Ecce, 2013)
• Fathers’ and mothers’ ‘stroking’ touch is equally effective in calming babies (Van Puyvelde et al., 2019)
• There are no biologically-based differences between the sexes in sensitivity to infants (Lamb et al, 1987)
• When similarly supported, both sexes develop childcare skills at the same rate (Myers, 1982)
• Fathers’ responsiveness varies depending on degree of responsibility for care (Lamb and Lewis, 2010)
• No sex difference in everyday multitasking (Himstein et al., 2019)

The neurobiology of active fatherhood

• Reduced testosterone
• Increases in hormones that facilitate responsiveness to infants (vasopressin), closeness and care (prolactin), affection and social bonds (oxytocin)
• Anatomical changes in fathers’ brains (neuroplasticity)
• Neurobiological reactions are more rapid in experienced fathers

(Abraham et al., 2019; Kim et al., 2014: Atzil et al, 2012; Gray & Anderson, 2010)

Gender equality; sharing the load

In the UK, when a father works flexibly and shares childcare, the child’s mother is almost twice as likely to progress in her career as when he works inflexibly and does little childcare (Frith, 2016)