Paternity Leave Status and Mental Health Symptoms Among Ohio Fathers: A Population-Representative Survey, 2022‒2023.

Abstract

<b>Objectives.</b> To examine the associations between paternal leave status and mental health symptoms in a large population-representative study of fathers after the birth of a child. <b>Methods.</b> We used data from the 2022-2023 Ohio Fatherhood Survey (OFS) to model the relationship between paid work leave factors and mental health (Patient Health Questionnaire-2 [PHQ-2] and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2 [GAD-2]) by using weighted descriptive analyses and adjusted logistic regression modeling. <b>Results.</b> Fathers with unpaid leave were more likely to report anxiety symptoms (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.58; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.00, 2.48) compared with fathers with paid leave, while unmet needs were associated with increased depression (AOR = 3.21; 95% CI = 1.92, 5.37) and anxiety (AOR = 3.12; 95% CI = 2.02, 4.83) symptoms. Furthermore, barriers to work leave, including financial barriers (PHQ-2 = 74.6%; GAD-2 = 71.2%) were more prevalent among fathers who reported recent mental health symptoms. <b>Conclusions.</b> Paid paternal leave status and leave barriers are associated with mental health symptoms. <b>Public Health Implications.</b> Equitable paid paternal leave may strengthen mental health, highlighting a public health pathway toward improving father and family well-being. (<i>Am J Public Health</i>. 2026;116(8):1136-1145. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2026.308554).