High paternal testosterone may protect against postpartum depressive symptoms in fathers, but confer risk to mothers and children.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Prospective observational cohort study assessing endocrine markers and psychological outcomes across time.
PubMed 28757312 · doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2017.07.014
What was done
The study evaluated prospective associations between paternal testosterone, parental postpartum depressive symptoms, and family functioning in 149 couples. Fathers provided testosterone samples at nine months postpartum. Both parents completed assessments of postpartum depressive symptoms at two, nine, and 15 months postpartum. Maternal relationship satisfaction, fathering stress, and mother-reported intimate partner aggression were also assessed.
What was found
The abstract does not provide exact numerical values, effect sizes, or confidence intervals. Directionally, lower aggregate paternal testosterone was associated with more paternal depressive symptoms at two and nine months postpartum. Higher evening paternal testosterone predicted more maternal depressive symptoms at nine and 15 months postpartum, mediated by maternal relationship dissatisfaction. Higher paternal testosterone at nine months independently predicted higher fathering stress and more mother-reported intimate partner aggression at 15 months. A curvilinear relationship was also observed, where fathers with both low and high testosterone at nine months reported greater depressive symptoms and fathering stress at 15 months.
Why it matters
These findings suggest that while higher paternal testosterone may protect against paternal postpartum depression, it can negatively impact maternal well-being and family dynamics. This highlights the complex trade-offs of neuroendocrine functioning in new fathers and urges caution regarding testosterone supplementation for paternal depression.
Limits
The sample was modest (149 couples), and no quantitative statistics or effect sizes are provided in the abstract. Testosterone was assessed at only one time point (nine months postpartum). The observational design precludes causal inference, and outcomes relied on subjective self-report questionnaires.
Cited by
- supports Fathers with higher testosterone postpartum have partners who report greater relationship dissatisfaction and more intimate partner aggression, and report higher parenting stress themselves.
- supports Men who have very low testosterone levels after the birth of a child experience higher levels of postpartum depression symptoms.