As many as one in three mothers experience anxious symptoms after the birth of their first child, according to new research from Monash University.
The study found that anxiety and adjustment disorders are more common than post-natal depression in new parents. It also found that up to 17% of first time fathers reported feeling anxious and struggled to adjust to parenthood in the first six months of their child’s life.
The researchers suggested that screening processes for anxiety – similar to those for post-natal depression – could assist new parents and that the findings highlighted the need to ensure that fathers are included in such processes.
Read more at Monash University