ACEs are associated with poorer mental health and wellbeing among first-time fathers, with those reporting ≥4 ACEs showing the strongest effects for depression, anxiety, and lower wellbeing during the first year after their child's birth.
Key Findings
Results
Fathers reporting 2-3 ACEs showed significantly higher depressive and anxiety symptoms and lower wellbeing compared to fathers reporting no ACEs, with stronger effects observed for those reporting ≥4 ACEs.
All associations were statistically significant at p < .05
A dose-response pattern was observed, with greater ACE exposure associated with worse outcomes
The sample consisted of 718 first-time fathers (mean age = 34.69 years; SD = 6.98 years)
Outcomes were measured during the first year after the child's birth
Generalised linear models were used, adjusting for study wave and demographic covariates
Results
Cumulative ACE exposure was not significantly associated with problematic alcohol use among first-time fathers.
Problematic alcohol use was measured using the AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test)
This finding differed from the pattern observed for depression, anxiety, and wellbeing
The non-significant association held despite adjusting for demographic covariates
This suggests that the relationship between ACEs and alcohol use may operate differently than for other mental health outcomes in this population
Results
Childhood sexual abuse, feeling unloved, and verbal abuse were each independently associated with higher depression and anxiety symptoms and poorer wellbeing among first-time fathers.
These specific ACE types were examined alongside cumulative ACE scores
Associations were identified using generalised linear models adjusting for study wave and demographic covariates
The ACE-10 questionnaire was used to retrospectively assess childhood adversity
These three ACE types showed independent associations above and beyond other ACE types included in the model
Results
Household substance use during childhood was independently associated with higher problematic alcohol use among first-time fathers.
This was the only specific ACE type significantly associated with problematic alcohol use
Problematic alcohol use was measured using the AUDIT
This finding suggests a specific intergenerational pathway from parental substance use to offspring alcohol problems
The association was identified in models examining independent contributions of specific ACE types
Methods
The study drew participants from a population-representative cohort of Australian men, the Ten to Men Study, comprising 718 first-time fathers.
Mean participant age was 34.69 years (SD = 6.98 years)
ACEs were retrospectively self-reported using the ACE-10 questionnaire
Mental health outcomes assessed included depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), problematic alcohol use (AUDIT), and wellbeing (Personal Wellbeing Index)
The Ten to Men Study is described as a population-representative cohort of Australian men
This is one of few studies to examine ACEs specifically in fathers during the transition to parenthood
Background
Research on ACEs during the transition to parenthood has largely focused on mothers, leaving limited evidence on the associations between ACEs and paternal mental health.
The authors identify this as a significant gap in the existing literature
ACEs are broadly associated with poorer mental health across the life course
The transition to fatherhood is identified as a period of particular relevance for mental health screening and intervention
The study is framed as addressing the underrepresentation of fathers in perinatal mental health research
What This Means
This research suggests that men who experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) — such as abuse, neglect, or household dysfunction — are more likely to struggle with depression, anxiety, and lower wellbeing during their first year of fatherhood. Using data from 718 first-time Australian fathers, the study found a clear dose-response pattern: the more types of ACEs a father had experienced, the worse his mental health tended to be during the transition to parenthood. Specific types of childhood adversity, including sexual abuse, feeling unloved, and verbal abuse, were each independently linked to poorer mental health outcomes, while growing up in a household with substance use was specifically linked to higher rates of problematic alcohol use in adulthood.
Interestingly, the overall number of ACEs was not significantly associated with problematic alcohol use, suggesting that the pathway from childhood adversity to alcohol problems may be more specific — tied particularly to exposure to substance use in the home — rather than adversity in general. This finding highlights that different types of childhood experiences may affect different aspects of adult mental health in distinct ways.
This research matters because the transition to fatherhood is an important but often overlooked window for identifying and supporting men's mental health. Most perinatal mental health research has focused on mothers, leaving fathers underserved. The findings suggest that screening new fathers for histories of childhood adversity could help identify those at higher risk for mental health difficulties, potentially opening doors for earlier support and intervention during this significant life transition.
Mahdi Mazidi, J. Macdonald, Karen Wynter, Jasleen Chhabra, Zac Seidler, S. Zubrick, et al.. (2026). Adverse childhood experiences and paternal mental health during the transition to fatherhood: Findings from a cohort study of Australian men.. International Journal of Child Abuse & Neglect. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2026.108312