Peer-reviewed article
Paternal Mental Health and it’s Influence on Parenting and Child Well-being in Sunyani West Municipality, Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study
Prince Kyere Dwaah, Awua-Boateng NY, Owusu Agyemang P, Serwaa FO, Amissah P et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined how fathers' mental health affects their parenting and children's well-being in Ghana. Researchers surveyed 400 fathers with children aged 0-17 years and found that fathers with poorer mental health engaged in less active parenting and had children with lower reported well-being. About one quarter of the fathers showed signs of severe depression. The study suggests that supporting fathers' mental health through community services could improve family outcomes.
Key points
- Poorer paternal mental health was significantly associated with reduced fathering practices (r = –0.32, p < 0.001)
- Poorer paternal mental health was associated with lower perceived child well-being (r = –0.29, p < 0.001)
- 25% of participating fathers exhibited symptoms of severe depression
- Paternal mental health significantly predicted both fathering behaviour and child well-being in regression analyses
- Authors recommend integrating paternal mental health support into primary health care in low-resource settings
Limitations
This is a cross-sectional study, so it can show relationships between variables but not prove that paternal mental health causes changes in parenting or child well-being. The study was conducted in one municipality in Ghana, so findings may not generalise to other regions or countries.
Abstract
Background: Fathers’ mental health is increasingly recognised as an essential component of child development and family well-being. However, in low- and middle-income countries like Ghana, research on paternal psychological health and its influence on parenting remains limited. Aim: To examine the relationship between paternal mental health, fathering practices, social support, and child well-being. Setting: The study was conducted within the Sunyani West Municipality in the Bono Region of Ghana. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 400 fathers with biological children aged 0-17 years. A multistage cluster sampling technique was employed. Data were collected using validated tools, including the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale; Inventory of Father Involvement (Short Form); Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support; and a child well-being checklist. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multivariable linear regression analyses were performed using SPSS version 26. Results: Findings revealed that poorer paternal mental health was significantly associated with reduced fathering practices (r = –0.32, p < 0.001) and lower perceived child well-being (r = –0.29, p < 0.001). Regression analyses confirmed that mental health significantly predicted fathering behaviour (β = –0.35, p < 0.001) and child well-being (β = –0.28, p < 0.001). Notably, 25% of participants exhibited symptoms of severe depression. Conclusion: Paternal psychological distress adversely affects parenting and child development outcomes in Ghana. Strengthening community-based psychosocial support and integrating paternal mental health into primary health care may enhance family and child well-being in similar low-resource settings.