The Invisible Caregivers: Multidimensional Perspectives on Paternal Role and Mental Health during early childhood

In recent decades, fatherhood has undergone a profound transformation, reflecting a shift toward gender-egalitarian parenting and a more nuanced understanding of men’s roles during pregnancy and early childhood. As fathers increasingly assume active caregiving responsibilities, a growing body of research highlights their central contribution to family adaptation and children’s development across several domains.

This symposium examines the multidimensional nature of fathering, focusing on paternal health, involvement in childcare, and coparenting dynamics as key determinants of parenting quality. Particular attention is given to the transition to parenthood and its impact on paternal mental health. In this regard, previous research indicates that paternal perinatal psychological distress is often undetected by traditional screening tools and clinical formulations; differently, it manifests through a wide spectrum of symptoms, such as irritability, anger, externalizing and addictive behaviors, somatization, and regulatory problems, which go beyond traditional depressive or anxious expressions.

By integrating empirical findings and clinical perspectives, the symposium explores individual, dyadic, and family-level factors associated with paternal engagement, mental health and sensitive caregiving. It also emphasizes the role of fathers’ active involvement in childcare as a key driver of gender equality and family functioning. Overall, this session underscores that addressing paternal needs could potentially mitigate systemic risks, thereby facilitating more adaptive caregiving environments. The ultimate goal is to advocate for more inclusive, gender-sensitive screening, clinical interventions and family-centered policies that recognize fathers as essential caregivers thereby reducing maternal burden, and ultimately promoting healthy child development.