Work

Sex difference in parental risk of suicide attempt during and after pregnancy in Sweden

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Whether the risks of maternal and paternal suicide attempt during and after pregnancy differ remains unclear. Here, in this nationwide register-based study in Sweden (2,196,276 pregnancies), we defined the year before conception, pregnancy and the year after birth and estimated week-specific incidence rate ratios (IRRs). We identified 7,469 (1.39 per 1,000 person-years) suicide attempts among mothers and 8,338 (1.62 per 1,000 person-years) among fathers. Compared with the corresponding week in the preconception period, mothers had a lower risk of suicide attempt during and after pregnancy (with the lowest IRR of 0.14 (0.11-0.17) at first week postpartum); fathers' risk of suicide attempt remained largely stable before childbirth, but a lower risk was observed during the first 10 postpartum weeks (IRRs ranging from 0.69 (0.58-0.81) to 0.91 (0.84-0.99)), followed by a higher risk in the later postpartum period (IRRs ranging from 1.10 (1.01-1.21) to 1.72 (1.33-2.24)). Compared with fathers, mothers had a lower risk of suicide attempt during and after pregnancy (for example, IRR of 0.22 (0.18-0.28) at first week postpartum). Compared with the general population, the sex difference of suicide attempt is reversed during and after pregnancy, suggesting pregnancy or childbirth may have a more pronounced association with suicide attempt among mothers than fathers.

Source: Nature Human Behaviour

DOI: 10.1038/s41562-025-02311-5