The Unseen Impact: How Father’s Mental Health Can Affect Children for Years to Come

When we think of happy families, we often imagine a loving mother and father who are supportive and present in their children’s lives. However, the reality is that fathers can struggle with mental health issues just like mothers, and when this happens, it can have a profound impact on their children.

Research from Rutgers Health has shown that when paternal depression goes undiagnosed or unaddressed, the negative social and behavioral effects on children can persist for years. In fact, a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that children exposed to paternal depression when entering kindergarten are far more likely to have teacher-reported behavioral difficulties and poor social skills at age 9.

The study, led by Kristine Schmitz, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, analyzed data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS), a national birth cohort that randomly sampled births in 20 large U.S. cities from 1998 to 2000.

The researchers found that children whose fathers reported depressive symptoms when they were age 5 were significantly more likely to exhibit restlessness, defiance, and anger as well as present lower levels of cooperation and self-esteem by the time they were age 9.

Schmitz emphasized the importance of considering depression in both parents, not just mothers. “Depression is treatable, and to support the whole family, pediatricians must start talking with dads about it and developing father-focused interventions that meet their needs,” she said.

The study’s findings suggest that interventions to identify and support fathers with depressive symptoms, and their children, could help attenuate the link between paternal depression and child behavior in school. By acknowledging and addressing paternal depression, we can improve not only fathers’ well-being but also the well-being of their children.

As Schmitz said, “As parents, we can model that when we struggle, we reach out and get help. That’s a lesson children will carry for a lifetime.”

Insomnia is a pervasive problem among older adults, affecting up to half of those over 65 years old. A recent study has shed light on the alarming connection between insomnia symptoms, sleep medication use, and disability in this age group. The researchers analyzed data from over 6,700 participants in the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) and found a significant correlation between increased insomnia symptoms and sleep medication use with higher levels of disability.

According to the study, for every incremental increase in insomnia symptoms, there was a corresponding 20% increase in risk of becoming disabled in some aspect of daily life. Similarly, increased usage of sleep medications also led to a higher risk of disability. The researchers discovered that individuals who regularly experienced insomnia symptoms and used sleep medication were at the highest risk of developing disabilities affecting their daily activities.

The study’s findings have important implications for the treatment of insomnia and the management of disability in older adults. “When we evaluated the relationships between disability, insomnia, and sleep medication use, we found that as older people used more sleep medication or experienced more insomnia symptoms, they moved more rapidly towards greater disability,” said Orfeu Buxton, co-author of the study.

The researchers emphasized the importance of proper treatment for insomnia, citing cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as a safe and effective approach. They also highlighted the need for healthcare providers to be aware of sleep problems and review medications to avoid triggering insomnia.

In an effort to raise awareness about the issue, the researchers urged older adults to talk to their physicians about sleep problems and advocate for themselves to get proper treatment. “Many older adults think sleep disruptions are a natural part of aging, but they are a real problem that must be addressed,” said Soomi Lee, co-author of the study.

The connection between insomnia symptoms, sleep medication use, and disability in older adults is a critical concern that requires attention from healthcare providers, researchers, and policymakers. By acknowledging the issue and taking proactive steps to address it, we can help mitigate its impact and improve the quality of life for older adults.

Memory formation is one of the brain’s most fundamental and complex functions, yet the microscopic mechanisms behind it remain poorly understood. Recent research has highlighted the importance of biochemical reactions occurring at postsynaptic densities – specialized areas where neurons connect and communicate. These tiny junctions between brain cells are now thought to be crucial sites where proteins need to organize in specific ways to facilitate learning and memory formation.

A 2021 study revealed that memory-related proteins can bind together to form droplet-like structures at postsynaptic densities, which scientists believe may be fundamental to how our brains create lasting memories. However, understanding exactly how and why such complex protein arrangements form has remained a significant challenge in neuroscience.

Against this backdrop, a research team led by Researcher Vikas Pandey from the International Center for Brain Science (ICBS), Fujita Health University, Japan, has developed an innovative computational model that reproduces these intricate protein structures. Their paper, published online in Cell Reports on April 07, 2025, explores the mechanisms behind the formation of multilayered protein condensates.

The researchers focused on four proteins found at synapses, with special attention to Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) – a protein particularly abundant in postsynaptic densities. Using computational modeling techniques, they simulated how these proteins interact and organize themselves under various conditions. Their model successfully reproduced the formation of the above-mentioned “droplet-inside-droplet” structures observed in earlier experiments.

Through simulations and detailed analyses of the physical forces and chemical interactions involved, the research team shed light on a process called liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS); it involves proteins spontaneously organizing into condensates without membranes that sometimes resemble the organelles found inside cells. Crucially, the researchers found that the distinctive “droplet-inside-droplet” structure appears as a result of competitive binding between the proteins and is significantly influenced by the shape of CaMKII, specifically its high valency (number of binding sites) and short linker length.

These findings could pave the way toward a better understanding of the possible mechanisms of memory formation in humans. However, the long-term implications of this research extend well beyond basic neuroscience. Defects in synapse formation have been associated with numerous neurological and mental health conditions, including schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorders, Down syndrome, and Rett syndrome.

“Our results revealed new structure-function relationships between proteins at synapses,” said Dr. Pandey. “We hope that our findings will contribute to the development of novel therapeutic strategies for these devastating diseases.”

The project received funding from various organizations, including the Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST), the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), JSPS KAKENHI, Kobayashi foundation, ISHIZUE2024 of Kyoto University, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research JP18H05434, and others.

References:

* Pandey, V., et al. (2025). Unraveling memory formation: A computational model reveals new insights into protein structures at synapses. Cell Reports.
* Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT). (n.d.). Research Grants JP18H05434 and JP20K21462.