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Newsweek
17-05-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
I Interviewed 1,400 Depressed Dads—What I Learned About How It Affects Kids
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. In popular culture, fathers are often portrayed as strong, stoic and endlessly reliable. But new research has outlined a different reality, one where fathers struggle too. As an assistant professor of pediatrics at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Kristine Schmitz spent years studying how parental mental health affects children. Recently, Schmitz and her colleagues published a study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, revealing that children exposed to paternal depression around age five are far more likely to experience behavioral challenges in grade school. The study analyzed data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study, a national birth cohort that tracked children and their parents from birth. The investigation specifically focused on 1,422 fathers who were screened for depressive symptoms when their children were five years old, Schmitz told Newsweek. Four years later, when the children were nine, their teachers reported on their behavior. "Children of fathers who were depressed around the time the child entered school were more likely to display behavioral challenges such as hyperactivity, oppositional behavior and ADHD symptoms," she said. Essentially, when dads struggled, their children often did too. The study used a standardized screening tool to identify symptoms of paternal depression, such as sadness, loss of interest in activities and low energy. Portrait of father and little daughter on playground. Portrait of father and little daughter on playground. Renata Angerami What mattered was not which symptoms the fathers experienced, but whether they met the threshold for likely depression. One of the most surprising aspects of the findings was timing, Schmitz told Newsweek. Most previous research has focused on paternal depression during the postpartum period. "Behavior problems were observed years later, when the children were nine, suggesting that paternal mental health continues to matter well beyond infancy," she said. Children facing emotional or behavioral challenges at this stage may struggle to build healthy peer relationships, which can affect their learning and self-esteem. The impact of paternal depression on a child is significant, as depression can hinder a father's capacity to interact positively with his child. It may lead to less emotional support, more conflict at home or simply a lack of presence—fathers who are mentally unwell may become withdrawn. "However, the pathways may differ due to differing parenting roles and societal expectations," Schmitz said. "While both are impactful, fathers have historically been less studied and less likely to be screened or supported, despite their equally critical role in a child's development." Mothers and fathers often have distinct roles in a child's life, and children may respond differently to each parent's emotional state. The findings outlined that paternal mental health is just as critical as maternal mental health. To address this issue, it's essential to acknowledge the importance of fathers' mental health. Healthcare providers, including pediatricians and family physicians, should implement screening protocols for depression that encompass both parents, rather than focusing solely on mothers. But it's not enough to simply identify depression. Schmitz told Newsweek there's a need father-specific interventions. "Programs should be accessible, father-friendly and designed with their voices heard," she said. In the end, addressing paternal depression is not just about helping fathers, it's about supporting entire families. When fathers are mentally healthy, they are better able to provide emotional support, model resilience, and build strong, loving relationships with their children. Do you have a tip on a health story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about mental health? Let us know via science@ Reference Schmitz, K., Noonan, K., Corman, H., Nguyen, J. M., Jimenez, M. E., & Reichman, N. E. (2025). Paternal Depression at Kindergarten Entry and Teacher-Reported Behavior at Age 9 Years. American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Spring allergy season returns to NJ. How bad will it be?
While plenty of New Jerseyans complained about the colder-than-usual winter we just experienced, allergy sufferers may hold back on their criticism. The mostly frigid and dry conditions seen over the last three months may produce less pollen from trees this spring in what is the first and often largest wave of seasonal allergy triggers. But experts disagree on the outlook, and some caution that forecasts aren't always an exact science. 'It really depends on the weather we get during the season,' said Dr. Catherine Monteleone, director of allergy and immunology at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. 'There have been plenty of times when I've heard that it's going to be the worst season in 10 years, and then it rains every day, and it's not.' Story continues below photo gallery. Many experts agree that the average allergy season has gotten longer over the past several decades as the planet has slowly warmed. Tree pollen bursts much earlier — sometimes even in late winter. Warmer conditions trigger summer grass pollen in late spring in the Northeast. And warm summer weather extends into autumn now, producing more ragweed pollen. 'Climate change has been the main driver for worse allergy seasons,' said Dr. Mohammed Younus, an allergist and immunologist at Hackensack University Medical Center. 'We're seeing more pollination, more growth of trees and flowers.' Demand for accurate allergy forecasts has risen as one in four adults and one in five children suffer from seasonal allergies. For many people, allergies are merely bothersome, resulting in sniffles and watery eyes. In extreme cases, allergies can trigger asthma attacks that require a trip to the emergency room. More: It's getting hot in here: Some weirdly wild tree sex is about to go down in your backyard More: Plants have adapted strange techniques to help with sex In the middle are people hammered by symptoms that just don't seem to go away. "It feels like they have the flu for months," Monteleone said. Long-range allergy forecasts have the same level of accuracy as long-range weather forecasts, because the two are intertwined. Warmer winter conditions usually set the stage for an earlier and prolonged allergy season. Wet conditions set the stage for an abundance of tree pollen. But weather patterns can change every year, and the winter of 2025 was anything but warm and wet. The average temperature in New Jersey from December through February was 32.3 degrees — almost 2 degrees below normal, said State Climatologist David Robinson. New Jersey received an average of 15 inches of snowfall statewide over the winter — almost 5 inches below normal. Rain has been so infrequent that most of New Jersey remains under drought conditions. The result? Younus has said he has seen fewer patients come to his office this spring. 'Some years we had patients coming in as early as mid-to-late-February, and we haven't seen that this year,' he said. 'The patients we're seeing have less severe symptoms.' All of this is subject to change. Weather patterns over the next few weeks and months can turn a moderate allergy season into a bad one. The reverse can also happen. And bad days may pop up with little warning. "Just because it's an average season doesn't mean someone can't be miserable for a few days or a week," Monteleone said. "We can have some dry, windy days after some rain, and then we're going to have some bad days." Find out what you're allergic to by getting a skin test at an allergist's office. An array of allergens — from different tree pollens to cat dander — are placed on the skin to see if a reaction occurs. The method has been in use for decades and is still one of the most accurate and fastest ways to find out who is allergic to what. Time the allergy season to be prepared. Tree pollen typically begins in early spring. Grass pollen starts in late spring and early summer. Weed pollen comes out in late summer and early fall. Try some time-honored lifestyle changes. Don't go out as much. Change clothes every time you come indoors, because pollen is sticky. Take a shower before bed. Take multiple showers a day if it's possible. Rub down dogs or cats when they come indoors. Keep the windows closed. Turn on the air conditioner or a filter. The number of over-the-counter allergy medications has increased in recent decades. You can do a trial-and-error experiment and see which ones work best for which season. Or consult a doctor over which one may be right. If oral medication is not helping, there patients can have a series of injections. Though they are effective, it can take three to five years of monthly shots to build up a tolerance. This article originally appeared on Spring allergy season returns to NJ. How bad will 2025 be?
