Psychological health experiences and help-seeking barriers: a qualitative study of Chinese new fathers within 12 months postpartum

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BACKGROUND: Paternal mental health around the time of childbirth is often overlooked. We examined Chinese first-time fathers’ experiences and help-seeking within 12 months postpartum. METHODS: This exploratory qualitative study used purposive sampling at two tertiary hospitals in Hainan to recruit 29 fathers for one-to-one semi-structured interviews. Audio-recordings were transcribed and analysed in NVivo 11 using Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Most fathers regarded sleep loss, irritability and fatigue as normal and seldom sought professional support. Six themes emerged: (1) emotional burden and role adaptation; (2) help-seeking pathways and self-regulation; (3) sources of psychological stress; (4) masculine norms and stigma; (5) informational and structural barriers to help-seeking; and (6) service preferences and suggestions. CONCLUSIONS: Integrating brief father education and screening, clear signposting and explicit confidentiality into routine perinatal care—alongside low-threshold, affordable, father-focused options—may improve uptake. Framed this way, help-seeking is part of competent fathering.

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