Mental health and well-being of fathers of children with intellectual disabilities: systematic review and meta-analysis. Issue 6 (November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dunn, Kirsty; Kinnear, Deborah; Jahoda, Andrew; McConnachie, Alex
• Is Part Of: BJPsych open. Volume 5:Issue 6(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-11
• Subjects: Intellectual disability, -- carers, -- mental health; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Mental health -- Periodicals; 616.89005
• DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2019.75
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2056-4724

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Caring for a child with intellectual disabilities can be a very rewarding but demanding experience. Research in this area has primarily focused on mothers, with relatively little attention given to the mental health of fathers. Aims: The purpose of this review was to summarise the evidence related to the mental health of fathers compared with mothers, and with fathers in the general population. Method: A meta-analysis was undertaken of all studies published by 1 July 2018 in Medline, PsycINFO, CINAHL and EMBASE, using terms on intellectual disabilities, mental health and father carers. Papers were selected based on pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: Of 5544 results, 20 studies met the inclusion criteria and 12 had appropriate data for meta-analysis. For comparisons of fathers with mothers, mothers were significantly more likely to have poor general mental health and well-being (standardised mean difference (SMD) −0.38, 95% CI −0.56 to −0.20), as well as higher levels of depression (SMD, −0.46; 95% CI −0.68 to −0.24), stress (SMD, −0.32; 95% CI −0.46 to −0.19) and anxiety (SMD, −0.30; 95% CI −0.50 to −0.10). Conclusions: There is a significant difference between the mental health of father and mother carers, with fathers less likely to exhibit poor mental health. However, this is based on a small number of studies. More data is needed to determine whether the general mental health and anxiety of father carers of a child with intellectual disabilities differs from fathers in the general population.