Mental illness Quote by Armin A. Brott
““Until fairly recently, there has been precious little research on expectant fathers’ emotional and psychological experiences during pregnancy. The very title of one of the first articles to appear on the subject should give you some idea of the medical and psychiatric communities’ attitude toward the impact of pregnancy on men. Written by William H. Wainwright, M.D., and published in the July 1966 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry, it was called “Fatherhood as a Precipitant of Mental Illness.” (Another wonderful title that came out at about the same time was: “Psychoses in Males in Relation to Their Wives’ Pregnancy and Childbirth.”)””
About This Quote
Source Journal Article: American Journal of Psychiatry, July 1966
Early research framed fathers’ mental health during pregnancy as pathological, reflecting bias and stigma
In simple terms: Fathers were seen as prone to illness during wives’ pregnancy
Key Takeaway
Challenge outdated stereotypes about paternal mental health
Themes
gender bias
mental health
historical perspective
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
analytical
historical
When to use this quote
- clinical practice
- parental support programs
Key Concepts
psychiatric research
fatherhood
pregnancy
Questions to Reflect On
- How have perceptions of paternal mental health evolved?
- What support can reduce stigma for expectant fathers?
A Different Perspective
The view ignores fathers’ positive experiences and resilience
