What effect does a father’s depression have on his young son
or daughter? When fathers report a high level of emotional intimacy in their
marriage, their children benefit, said a University of Illinois study.
“When a parent is interacting with their child, they need to
be able to attend to the child’s emotional state, be cued in to his
developmental stage and abilities, and notice whether he is getting frustrated
or needs help. Depressed parents have more difficulty doing that,” said Nancy
McElwain, a U of I professor of human development.