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While the effect of mothers´ mental health on children´s development is well documented, studies of the predictive value of prenatal psychological distress in fathers for their children´s early psychosocial and behavioural development are still scarce. The overall aim of this project was to investigate if and to what extent expectant fathers´ mental health presents a risk factor for their children´s development. This study was based on data from 31,663 children participating in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) (Magnus et al., 2006). Data on fathers´ and mothers´ prenatal psychological distress were obtained through the self-report at week 17 or 18 of gestation. Information on children´s social, emotional and behavioural development at age 3 years was obtained from mothers´ reports. Three percent of fathers had high level of psychological distress. We found a small, but consistent association between fathers´ psychological distress and children´s behavioural difficulties, emotional difficulties, and social functioning. The associations did not change after adjusting for fathers´ age, education, marital status, somatic conditions, physical activity, and mothers.

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Anne Lise Kvalevaag:Spesialist in Clinical Psychology.PhD in psychology at the University of Bergen. Head of Department of Research and Innovation in Helse Fonna, HF, Norway.Eva Biringer:MD and PhD at University of Bergen.Researcher at Department of Research and Innovation, Helse Fonna HF.

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