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01-10-2014 | Original Contribution

Does paternal mental health in pregnancy predict physically aggressive behavior in children?

Authors: Anne Lise Kvalevaag, Paul G. Ramchandani, Oddbjørn Hove, Malin Eberhard-Gran, Jurg Assmus, Odd E. Haavik, Børge Sivertsen, Eva Biringer

Published in: European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry | Issue 10/2014

Abstract

The aim was to study the association between paternal mental health and physically aggressive behavior in children. This study is based on 19,580 father–child dyads from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). Fathers’ mental health was assessed by self-report (Symptom Checklist-5, SCL-5) in week 17 or 18 of gestation. Children’s behavior (hitting others) was obtained by mothers’ reports. A multinomial logistic regression model was performed. Expectant fathers’ high level of psychological distress was found to be a significant risk factor only for girls hitting, adjusted OR = 1.46 (1.01–2.12), p = 0.043, but not for boys. High levels of mental distress in fathers predict their daughters’ hitting at 5 years of age.

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Title: Does paternal mental health in pregnancy predict physically aggressive behavior in children?
Authors: Anne Lise Kvalevaag
Paul G. Ramchandani
Oddbjørn Hove
Malin Eberhard-Gran
Jurg Assmus
Odd E. Haavik
Børge Sivertsen
Eva Biringer
Publication date: 01-10-2014
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry / Issue 10/2014
Print ISSN: 1018-8827
Electronic ISSN: 1435-165X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-014-0587-y

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Does paternal mental health in pregnancy predict physically aggressive behavior in children?

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