Table 2 Descriptive statistics of fathers with low and high levels of depressive symptoms

Family context factors

Maternal depressive symptoms: Mean(SD)

3.96 (4.3)

6.18 (5.6)

2.82 (3.2)

4.98 (4.6)

2.62 (3.2)

4.23 (4.6)

2.57 (3.2)

4.69 (4.4)^b

Marital conflict: Mean (SD)

−0.04 (1.0)

0.97 (1.3)

−0.00 (1.0)

1.38 (1.3)

−0.01 (1.0)

1.13 (1.5)

−0.02 (1.0)

1.02 (1.5)^b

Child temperament: Mean(SD)

57.44 (6.1)

55.26 (6.8)

57.49 (6.0)

56.88 (7.1)^b

57.52 (6.0)

56.44 (6.8)

57.41 (6.0)

55.45 (6.7)^b

Child gender (%)

 1. Boy

52

50

50

51

51

57

51

51

 2. Girl

48

50

50

49

49

43

49

49

Socio-demographic factors

Paternal education (%)

 1. No qualifications

14

31

12

29

12

37

12

27

 2. School level, Degree or higher

86

69

88

71

88

63

88

73

Fathers ethnic background (%)

 1. White

91

88

92

88

93

89

92

86

 2. Indian, Pakistani & Bangladeshi

5

7

5

7

4

7

4

9

 3. Afro-Caribbean & British afro-Caribbean

2

2

2

3

1

0

2

1

 4. Mixed, other ethic

2

3

2

2

2

4

2

4

Fathers’ employment (%)

 1. Employed

92

74

94

74

95

63

95

61

 2. Unemployed

8

26

6

26

5

37

5

39

Housing (%)

 1. Council or private rent

22

43

17

40

15

46

16

46

 2. Home owner

78

57

83

60

85

54

84

54

Family income: Mean (£ per week)

370.15 (205.00)

290.92 (197.10)

413.88 (227.14)

291.21 (192.93)^b

439.95 (222.63)

272.53 (150.63)

474.08 (229.37)

309.37 (200.71)^b

Paternal age (years): Mean (SD)

33.2 (6.0)

32.7 (6.6)

35.7 (5.9)

34.7 (6.5)

37.8 (5.9)

37.6 (6.2)

39.7 (5.9)

38.7 (6.3)^b