Figure 2.

Mediation models testing the indirect associations between paternal anxiety, assessed during the prenatal period (top) and at the childhood assessment (bottom), and child internalizing symptoms at 6–8 years old via child DHEA levels. Control variables include paternal anxiety assessed in childhood (top) or prenatally (bottom), as well as maternal prenatal (STR) and childhood (BAI) anxiety, and sex, thus making the models comparable. Only the prenatal paternal anxiety (top) mediation model was significant. STR, prenatal anxiety questionnaire. BAI: Beck Anxiety Inventory; DHEA: dehydroepiandrosterone; STR: anxiety scale; SDQ: Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. *p < 0.05.