"Depressed" fathers' interactions with their infants

Four groups (N = 80 families) of depressed (depressive symptoms) and nondep ressed fathers and mothers were compared during interactions with their 3- to 6-month-old infants to determine how depressed versus nondepressed fathe rs interacted with their infants and how their interactions compared with d epressed mothers interacting with their infants. Depressed and nondepressed fathers received similar ratings and depressed fathers received higher int eraction ratings than depressed mothers. Although depressed fathers did not seem to behave negatively with their infants, their nondepressed partners showed less optimal interaction behaviors with their infants.