Fathers’ experiences of depression during the perinatal period: a qualitative systematic review

Abstract

The author (CE) would like to thank Andrea Packwood, ARU librarian, for her support in developing the search process. Thanks also to Professor Kay Cooper from the Scottish Centre for Evidence-Based Multi Professional Practice for her guidance in using the JBI approach to systematic reviews of qualitative studies, and for peer reviewing the protocol. This review contributes to a doctoral degree award for CD. FundingThis systematic review has been completed as part of a fully funded Vice Chancellor PhD studentship at Anglia Ruskin University. DeclarationsNo declarations.

A relational investigation of Israeli gay fathers’ experiences of surrogacy, early parenthood, and mental health in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

“…This echoes research showing talking therapy-helping people explore ways to connect with children without pressure-can be as effective as pharmacological treatment for postnatal depression [91]. It also emphasises the need to publicise more widely that father-infant bonds typically take time to form after birth [30], and more so if they are disrupted by depression [92].…”

“…For instance, contributing factors to paternal psychological distress often include restrictions placed on acceptable masculinity, conflicting demands between work and family life, and discrepancies between the expectancies and realities of heterosexual parenthood [25][26][27]. Additionally, despite the wide range of experiences of paternal psychological distress [28,29], heterosexual fathers are encouraged to either circumvent or hide their symptoms for fear of being stigmatised as weak, or alternatively valorise their masculinity in the articulation of their distress (e.g., by prioritising responsibilities towards partners and children, ahead of paternal needs) [30].…”

“…To the extent that heterosexual fathers experience and manifest psychological distress differently to mothers, practitioners working with men may struggle to distinguish male distress from traditional masculine traits, such as being stoic, expressing aggression, or taking risks [30]. Indeed, heterosexual fathers-like other men with experiences of vulnerabilities and frustrations about receiving the help they need [31]-are often reluctant to disclose symptoms of psychological distress, which in turn contributes to feelings of abandonment, helplessness, and invisibility within healthcare settings [30,32,33]. Such disengagement from family-centred services may also contribute to paternal detachment from the family unit, which impacts on effective parenting and reinforces the normalisation and concealment of distress in fatherhood [30].…”

“…Indeed, heterosexual fathers-like other men with experiences of vulnerabilities and frustrations about receiving the help they need [31]-are often reluctant to disclose symptoms of psychological distress, which in turn contributes to feelings of abandonment, helplessness, and invisibility within healthcare settings [30,32,33]. Such disengagement from family-centred services may also contribute to paternal detachment from the family unit, which impacts on effective parenting and reinforces the normalisation and concealment of distress in fatherhood [30]. Access to appropriate parent-facing healthcare services may also be compromised by practitioner training deficits in male presentations of distress [34], prioritisation of maternal care or a lack of non-targeted support, not to mention professional comforts in working with fathers [35].…”

“…Throughout the narratives, partners were constructed as primary sources of support, and in masculine terms, teammates on the quest, and in relational terms, integral parts of self. This was important in responding to the pressures of surrogacy, especially where the difficulties of postnatal depression presented [30]. Here, partners who legitimise the reality of postnatal depression (e.g., father not to blame, a temporary distressing and disconnected state) were helpful.…”