Teague Samantha J, Shatte Adrian B R, Fuller-Tyszkiewicz Matthew, Hutchinson Delyse M
SEEDLifespan Strategic Research Centre, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia; Department of Psychology, College of Healthcare Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia.
Department of Information Technology, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia.
J Affect Disord. 2025 Aug 1;382:325-335. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2025.04.075. Epub 2025 Apr 23.
Paternal perinatal mental health significantly impacts family outcomes, yet fathers are often overlooked and underserved in mental health services. This study evaluates the efficacy of a mindfulness-based cognitive behaviour therapy intervention delivered via mobile app to address paternal perinatal depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms.
A randomised controlled trial was conducted with perinatal fathers experiencing moderate depression, anxiety, or stress symptoms. Participants were assigned to either the Rover app mindfulness-based CBT intervention (n = 81) or an active control app, moodmonitor (n = 75). Primary outcomes were depression (EPDS), anxiety, and stress (DASS21); secondary outcomes included social support, parenting self-efficacy, and couple relationship quality. Post-test analysis occurred at four weeks, with an additional eight-week follow-up for the intervention group.
Contrary to hypotheses, no differences were found between groups for depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms. Both groups showed significant reductions in anxiety (intervention d = -1.7, control d = -1.94) and stress (intervention d = -2.9, control d = -2.8) and improved couple relationship quality. Rover users maintained improvements at 8-week follow-up. Fathers with severe baseline depression experienced greater reductions in depression using the Rover app (b = 5.36, p < 0.01).
Low adherence to the intervention and moderate attrition over the study duration.
Although the intervention was acceptable to fathers, treatment adherence was low, highlighting the need for more engaging content. App-based interventions show potential benefits for paternal mental health, but user engagement must be improved. This study contributes to the growing literature on digital interventions for fathers' mental health and emphasizes the importance of including fathers in perinatal mental health research.
Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12621000275864.
父亲围产期心理健康对家庭状况有重大影响，但在心理健康服务中，父亲往往被忽视且未得到充分服务。本研究评估通过移动应用程序提供的基于正念的认知行为疗法干预措施对解决父亲围产期抑郁、焦虑和压力症状的疗效。
对有中度抑郁、焦虑或压力症状的围产期父亲进行了一项随机对照试验。参与者被分配到基于Rover应用程序的正念认知行为疗法干预组（n = 81）或积极对照应用程序moodmonitor组（n = 75）。主要结局指标为抑郁（爱丁堡产后抑郁量表）、焦虑和压力（抑郁焦虑压力量表21项）；次要结局指标包括社会支持、育儿自我效能感和夫妻关系质量。干预四周后进行测试后分析，干预组还进行了为期八周的额外随访。
与假设相反，两组在抑郁、焦虑和压力症状方面未发现差异。两组的焦虑（干预组d = -1.7，对照组d = -1.94）和压力（干预组d = -2.9，对照组d = -2.8）均显著降低，夫妻关系质量得到改善。Rover应用程序的用户在8周随访时保持了改善。基线抑郁严重的父亲使用Rover应用程序后抑郁症状减轻幅度更大（b = 5.36，p < 0.01）。
干预的依从性较低，且在研究期间有中度失访。
尽管该干预措施为父亲所接受，但治疗依从性较低，这突出表明需要更具吸引力的内容。基于应用程序的干预措施对父亲心理健康显示出潜在益处，但必须提高用户参与度。本研究为关于父亲心理健康数字干预的不断增长的文献做出了贡献，并强调了将父亲纳入围产期心理健康研究的重要性。
澳大利亚和新西兰临床试验注册中心：ACTRN12621000275864。
