Community-based interventions to promote paternal mental wellbeing and prevent poor mental health during the perinatal period: a mixed methods systematic review.

Community-based interventions for paternal perinatal mental health produced mixed effects on standardized mental health outcome measures.

• Nineteen papers representing 18 studies met eligibility criteria across 11 countries.
• Twelve studies were quantitative, three mixed methods, and three were qualitative.
• Studies evaluated psychosocial, psychoeducational, peer support, and digital or technology-assisted approaches.
• Interventions were delivered to fathers individually, within couples, or in group settings.
• The review covered publications from 2009 to 2025.

Community-based interventions were associated with reduced social isolation and increased feelings of connection and belonging among fathers.

• This was one of six integrated findings synthesized from 39 qualitative findings and 11 qualitized findings.
• Quantitative data was 'qualitized' and synthesized with qualitative data using a convergent integrated approach.
• The JBI approach to critical appraisal, study selection, data extraction, and data synthesis was used.
• This finding emerged across multiple intervention types including peer support and group-based formats.

Interventions provided fathers with validation, emotional reassurance, and access to safe, non-judgmental spaces.

• This represented the second of six integrated findings from the convergent synthesis.
• This finding was drawn from both qualitative studies and qualitized quantitative data.
• The finding reflects a psychosocial benefit distinct from clinical symptom reduction.
• Studies were conducted across diverse international contexts spanning 11 countries.

Community-based interventions strengthened paternal identity, confidence, and readiness for fatherhood.

• This was the third of six integrated findings synthesized in the review.
• The finding was consistent across psychosocial, psychoeducational, and peer support intervention types.
• Strengthened paternal identity was identified as a meaningful benefit independent of standardized mental health scores.
• This finding highlights outcomes not typically captured by conventional mental health measurement tools.

Interventions were associated with enhanced father-infant bonding and increased caregiving involvement.

• This was the fourth of six integrated findings from the mixed methods synthesis.
• Enhanced bonding and caregiving involvement represent relational outcomes extending beyond the father's individual mental health.
• The review notes that mentally well and engaged fathers contribute positively to child development.
• This finding was identified across multiple study designs and intervention modalities.

Community-based interventions improved partner relationships and co-parenting through better communication and confidence.

• This was the fifth of six integrated findings.
• Benefits extended to the couple relationship, not only to the individual father.
• Improved co-parenting dynamics were identified as an outcome of participation in community-based programs.
• Both couples-based and individually-targeted interventions contributed to this finding.

Participation in community-based interventions increased fathers' knowledge, coping strategies, and mental health literacy.

• This was the sixth of six integrated findings synthesized from qualitative and qualitized data.
• Increased mental health literacy was identified as a meaningful outcome across intervention types.
• Psychoeducational interventions were among the modalities contributing to this finding.
• This finding suggests interventions may have preventive value through improved awareness and skill-building.

The authors identified a need for broader outcome frameworks and more rigorous evaluation of paternal perinatal mental health interventions.

• Current reliance on standardized mental health outcome measures may underestimate intervention benefits.
• The review concludes that promoting paternal mental health 'may depend less on short-term symptom reduction and more on strengthening social connection, identity, and confidence.'
• Poor paternal mental health was noted to negatively affect fathers, partners, and children.
• The review calls for public health practice and policy to incorporate psychosocial and relational outcomes alongside clinical measures.