Impact of Expectant Father's Depression on Health-Promoting Behaviors and Marital Adjustment

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of depression in expectant fathers, its association with marital adjustment and health-promoting behaviors, as well as the mediating role of depression in the association between marital adjustment and health behaviors in men. In the summer of 2022, 200 expectant fathers were selected. The participants completed the questionnaires included demographic information, dyadic adjustment, depression, and health-promoting behaviors. The results showed that depression had a high prevalence (25%) in expectant fathers. Also, marital adjustment predicted 73% of health-promoting behaviors of the expectant fathers, both directly (58%) and indirectly through depression (15%).