Adverse childhood experiences and paternal mental health during the transition to fatherhood: Findings from a cohort study of Australian men

Abstract

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with poorer mental health across the life course. However, research examining ACEs during the transition to parenthood has largely focused on mothers, with limited evidence on fathers. Objective: To examine associations between cumulative and specific ACEs and mental health and wellbeing among first-time fathers during the first year after their child's birth. Participants and setting: Participants were 718 first-time fathers (Mage = 34.69 years; SD = 6.98 years) drawn from the Ten to Men Study, a population-representative cohort of Australian men. Methods: Fathers retrospectively reported ACEs using the ACE-10 questionnaire and..