Psychosocial Correlates of Prenatal Depression and Anxiety Among Fathers from Tribal Communities in India: A Cross-sectional Study.
- 1Dept. of Psychiatric Social Work, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
- 2Dept. of Epidemiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Abstract
Background
Expectant fathers may experience psychological distress during pregnancy, yet evidence on paternal mental health among tribal populations in India remains scarce. This study assessed depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, psychological well-being, perceived social support, and their psychosocial correlates among tribal expectant fathers.Methods
A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 80 tribal expectant fathers in Attappady, India. Data were collected using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5), and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms were defined using PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores of ≥5, respectively. Univariate logistic regression and multivariable Firth's penalized logistic regression examined factors associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms. Spearman's rank-order correlation assessed relationships among psychological outcomes.Results
Depressive symptoms were reported by 17.5% of participants, anxiety symptoms by 10.0%, and poor psychological well-being by 40.0%. Seasonal migration (AOR = 7.15, 95% CI: 1.93-26.52) and financial debt (AOR = 4.87, 95% CI: 1.30-18.25) were associated with depressive symptoms. Planned pregnancy was associated with lower odds of anxiety symptoms, whereas previous pregnancy loss was associated with higher odds. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were negatively correlated with psychological well-being and perceived social support.Conclusions
Depressive and anxiety symptoms and poor psychological well-being were present among tribal expectant fathers. Father-inclusive screening and psychosocial support addressing socioeconomic stressors may help meet paternal mental health needs in underserved tribal communities.
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BibTeX
@article{krishnan2026psychosocial,
title = {{Psychosocial Correlates of Prenatal Depression and Anxiety Among Fathers from Tribal Communities in India: A Cross-sectional Study.}},
author = {Manu Krishnan and Kimneihat Vaiphei and Pracheth Raghuveer and Prabha S Chandra},
journal = {Indian journal of psychological medicine},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1177/02537176261496713},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42903361},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Psychosocial Correlates of Prenatal Depression and Anxiety Among Fathers from Tribal Communities in India: A Cross-sectional Study.
AU - Manu Krishnan
AU - Kimneihat Vaiphei
AU - Pracheth Raghuveer
AU - Prabha S Chandra
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/19
JO - Indian journal of psychological medicine
DO - 10.1177/02537176261496713
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42903361
AB - Background Expectant fathers may experience psychological distress during pregnancy, yet evidence on paternal mental health among tribal populations in India remains scarce. This study assessed depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, psychological well-being, perceived social support, and their psychosocial correlates among tribal expectant fathers.Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 80 tribal expectant fathers in Attappady, India. Data were collected using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5), and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms were defined using PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores of ≥5, respectively. Univariate logistic regression and multivariable Firth's penalized logistic regression examined factors associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms. Spearman's rank-order correlation assessed relationships among psychological outcomes.Results Depressive symptoms were reported by 17.5% of participants, anxiety symptoms by 10.0%, and poor psychological well-being by 40.0%. Seasonal migration (AOR = 7.15, 95% CI: 1.93-26.52) and financial debt (AOR = 4.87, 95% CI: 1.30-18.25) were associated with depressive symptoms. Planned pregnancy was associated with lower odds of anxiety symptoms, whereas previous pregnancy loss was associated with higher odds. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were negatively correlated with psychological well-being and perceived social support.Conclusions Depressive and anxiety symptoms and poor psychological well-being were present among tribal expectant fathers. Father-inclusive screening and psychosocial support addressing socioeconomic stressors may help meet paternal mental health needs in underserved tribal communities.
SN - 0253-7176
SN - 0975-1564
ER -