References

Baral JEV, Guzman R Anxieties and Coping among Filipino New Fathers with Postnatal Depression. J Fam Issues. 2021; 42:(5)1077-1091 https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X21994149

Bertrand I, Hughes P Media Research Methods Audiences, Institutions, Texts.: Palgrave Macmillan; 2005

The myth of invisible men: safeguarding children under 1 from non-accidental injury caused by male carers.London: Department for Education; 2021

Darwin Z, Galdas P, Hinchliff S, Littlewood E, McMillan D, McGowan L, Gilbody S Fathers’ views and experiences of their own mental health during pregnancy and the first postnatal year: a qualitative interview study of men participating in the UK Born and Bred in Yorkshire (BaBY) cohort. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2017; 17:(1) https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-017-1229-4

Davenport C, Lambie J, Owen C, Swami V Fathers’ experiences of depression during the perinatal period: a qualitative systematic review. JBI Evidence Synthesis. 2022; 20:(9)2244-2302 https://doi.org/10.11124/JBIES-21-00365

Davenport C, Swami V ‘What can I do to not have this life?’ A qualitative study of paternal postnatal depression experiences among fathers in the United Kingdom. Issues Ment Health Nurs. 2023a; 44:(12)1188-1199 https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2023.2262574

Davenport C, Swami V Exploring fathers’ experiences of seeking support for postnatal depression. Prim Health Care. 2023b; https://doi.org/10.7748/phc.2023.e1810

Davenport C, Swami V Health visitors’ experiences of supporting fathers with paternal postnatal depression. Journal of Health Visiting. 2023; 11:(9)378-390 https://doi.org/10.12968/johv.2023.11.9.378

Delicate A, Ayers S, McMullen S A systematic review and meta-synthesis of the impact of becoming parents on the couple relationship. Midwifery. 2018; 61:88-96 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2018.02.022

Doucet A, Mauthner N Tea and Tupperware Mommy blogging as care, work and consumption. In: Rogers C, Weller S (eds). London: Routledge;

Eddy B, Poll V, Whiting J, Clevesy M Forgotten fathers: postpartum depression in men. J Fam Issues. 2019; 40:(8)1001-1017 https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X19833111

Edhborg M, Carlberg M, Simon F, Lindberg L ‘Waiting for better times’: experiences in the first postpartum year by Swedish fathers with depressive symptoms. Am J Men Health. 2016; 10:(5)428-439 https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988315574740

Erlingsson C, Brysiewicz P A hands-on guide to doing content analysis. Afr J Emerg Med. 2017; 7:(3)93-99 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.afjem.2017.08.001

Finnbogadóttir H, Dykes AK Increasing prevalence and incidence of domestic violence during the pregnancy and one and a half year postpartum, as well as risk factors: a longitudinal cohort study in Southern Sweden. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2016; 16:(1) https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-016-1122-6

Goodman JH Influences of maternal postpartum depression on fathers and on father–infant interaction. Infant Ment Health J. 2008; 29:(6)624-643 https://doi.org/10.1002/imhj.20199

Henderson J, Alderdice F, Redshaw M Factors associated with maternal postpartum fatigue: an observationalstudy. BMJ Open. 2019; 9:(7) https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-025927

Jaworska S ‘Bad’ mums tell the ‘untellable’: narrative practices and agency in online stories about postnatal depression on Mumsnet. Discourse, Context & Media. 2018; 25:25-33 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dcm.2017.11.002

Jeong YJ, Nho JH, Kim HY, Kim JY Factors Influencing Quality of Life in Early Postpartum Women. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021; 18:(6) https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18062988

Kirova K, Snell T Women’s experiences of positive postnatal partner support. J Reprod Infant Psychol. 2019; 37:(2)206-218 https://doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2018.1542120

Mayers A, Hambidge S, Bryant O, Arden-Close E Supporting women who develop poor postnatal mental health: what support do fathers receive to support their partner and their own mental health?. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2020; 20:(1) https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-03043-2

McDonald E, Woolhouse H, Brown SJ Sexual pleasure and emotional satisfaction in the first 18 months after childbirth. Midwifery. 2017; 55:60-66 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2017.09.002

NHS. Domestic abuse in pregnancy. 2021. https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/support/domestic-abuse-in-pregnancy/#:~:text=Pregnancy%20can%20be%20a%20trigger,or%20death%20to%20the%20baby (accessed 4 June 2024)

Paulson JF, Bazemore SD Prenatal and postpartum depression in fathers and its association with maternal depression: a meta-analysis. JAMA. 2010; 303:(19)1961-1969 https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2010.605

Pedersen S The good, the bad and the ‘good enough’ mother on the UK parenting forum Mumsnet. Womens Stud Int Forum. 2016; 59:32-38 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsif.2016.09.004

Pedersen SC, Maindal HT, Ryom K ‘I wanted to be there as a father, but I couldn’t’: a qualitative study of fathers’ experiences of post-partum depression and their help-seeking behavior. Am J Men Health. 2021; 15:(3) https://doi.org/10.1177/15579883211024375

Pope C, Mayes N, Popay J Synthesizing Qualitative and Quantitative Health Evidence A guide to methods.: McGraw Hill; 2007

Russell S Netmums online support for parents. Community Pract. 2006; 79:(2)44-45

Schuppan KM, Roberts R, Powrie R Paternal perinatal mental health: at-risk fathers’ perceptions of help-seeking and screening. J Men’s Stud. 2019; 27:(3)307-328 https://doi.org/10.1177/1060826519829908

Tammentie T, Paavilainen E, Åstedt-Kurki P, Tarkka MT Family dynamics of postnatally depressed mothers – discrepancy between expectations and reality. J Clin Nurs. 2004; 13:(1)65-74 https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2702.2003.00824.x

Thomas CR, Holmes EK Are father depression and masculinity associated with father perceptions of maternal gatekeeping?. J Fam Psychol. 2020; 34:(4)490-495 https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000604

A content analysis of mothers' online communications of their partner's paternal postnatal depression

02 June 2024

Research and Development

02 June 2024

Volume 12 · Issue 5

ISSN (print): 2050-8719

ISSN (online): 2052-2908

Abstract

Research has increasingly focused on fathers' experiences of maternal postnatal depression (PND), but there is little information on mothers' experiences of paternal PND. Given that men are not routinely assessed or diagnosed with PND, the aim of this study was to understand how mothers describe their experiences of living with fathers who they presume to be experiencing paternal PND. This study used content analysis of online forum posts written by mothers on two UK parenting sites. Two themes are presented: mothers consider their partner to have PND due to his sudden behaviour changes and/or a lack of bonding with the baby; and women expect fathers to seek help when PND is suspected, with mothers feeling unsupported and in need of help. Mothers suspect paternal PND when they observe behavioural, emotional and character changes in fathers, as well as difficulties with father–infant bonding. Mothers seek advice on their situation based on a sense of helplessness. Among women more generally, fathers are expected to seek help for their mental health, usually from their GP. Conversely, women are advised to seek advice from their health visitor when they are concerned about their partner's mental health.

The transition to parenthood is characterised by a period of adjustment experienced by both mothers and fathers (Delicate et al, 2018). For mothers, postnatal relationships with their partners and infants are subject to significant change (Jeong et al, 2021). In particular, mothers' perceptions of partner support have an influence on their experiences during the transition to parenthood. The importance of partner support to new mothers has been described as ‘emotional or instrumental’ (Kirova and Snell, 2018: 207). This is significant, since relationship intimacy has possibly the strongest effect on mothers' quality of life in the postnatal period (Jeong et al, 2021).

Mothers also benefit from a supportive partner and partner support may protect mothers from postnatal fatigue (Henderson et al, 2019). Mothers also consider partner contributions in household chores as validation of their new role as mothers (Kirova and Snell, 2017). Furthermore, a mother's perception of her partner's contribution to household tasks has also been shown to be associated with a higher sense of intimacy in her relationship (McDonald et al, 2017). Thus, the father's prioritisation of his family positively influences maternal perceptions of partner support (Kirova and Snell, 2017).

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Journal of Child Health and reading some of our peer-reviewed resources for children’s health professionals. To read more, please register today. You’ll enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included

Limited access to our clinical or professional articles
New content and clinical newsletter updates each month

Or continue by

Signing in with your registered email address

Mothers

Paternal postnatal depression

Health visitors

Safeguarding