Mental Health Literacy of Maternal and Paternal Postnatal Depression in a Community Sample of Romanian Adults

Abstract

Postnatal depression affects a large proportion of Romanian parents, but no existing research has examined knowledge of postnatal depression in Romanian adults. To rectify this, we examined the ability of Romanian adults to correctly identify cases of maternal and paternal postnatal depression, as well as attitudes toward cases of postnatal depression. A total of 1,248 Romanian adults were presented with vignettes describing cases of maternal or paternal postnatal depression. Based on the vignettes, participants were asked to report if they thought anything was wrong with the targets and, if so, to describe what they thought was wrong. Participants also rated the targets on several attitudinal dimensions. Participants were more likely to indicate that something was wrong when the target was female (67.9%) compared with male (46.4%). Of those who believed something was wrong, 57.7% of participants correctly described the female target as experiencing postnatal depression, but only 37.1% did so for the male target. Women held significantly more positive attitudes toward the targets than men, particularly when the target was female. Mental health literacy of postnatal depression appears to be poor in Romanian adults compared with other national groups, especially in the case of paternal postnatal depression.

Measuring Health Literacy in Romania: Validation of the HLS-EU-Q16 Survey Questionnaire

“…In Romania, to our best knowledge, there is only one study assessing health literacy, focusing on the HL of the general population in the rural area of Cluj county [15]. Other published research on HL in Romania focuses on maternal HL among Hungarian mothers [16], mental HL of mothers [17], and adult literacy in dentistry [18]. Thus, it appears that research on HL in Romania is not only scarce, but also not aligned with the standards developed at EU level.…”

Health Anxiety, Psychological Well-Being and Sexual Satisfaction in the Context of the Covid-19 Pandemic

“…& Vazirani, S. (2020).Certain categories are especially vulnerable, the elderly Eglite, A., Vintila, M., Grinfelde, A., Kanitike, I., 2009, Vintila, M., Marklinder, I., Nydahl, M., Istrat, D., Kuglis, a., 2009, as they often live alone, and have fewer social contacts even in normal times. Also, people with psychiatric disorders, depression, anxiety, panic attacks are especially vulnerable in these times , Swami, V., Barron, D., Vintila, M., Ong, HS, Tudorel, O., Goian, C, Wong, KY, Toh, EKL., 2021, Swami, V., Vintila, M., Goian, C., Tudorel, O., Bucur, V., 2020. Health anxiety is also in relationship with vaccination intention.…”

Getting help as a depressed dad: A lived experience narrative of paternal postnatal depression, with considerations for healthcare practice

“…It also did not help that, back then, I was almost entirely ignorant of postnatal depression. It was, I believed, a condition that only affected mothers-a belief that my colleagues and I have since found to be relatively widespread (Swami, Barron et al, 2020a); Swami, Vintila et al, 2020b). Understand my privilege: a psychologist with access to contemporary research; and yet, I was wilfully ignorant of the simple fact that fathers often do experience psychological distress after the birth of a child.…”