Stress and support as related to postpartum paternal mental health and perceptions of the infant

Zelkowitz, Phyllis; Milet, Tamara H.

doi:10.1002/(sici)1097-0355(199724)18:4<424::aid-imhj8>3.0.co;2-k

Cited by 35 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…In contrast, some of the mothers who had more than one child were surprised and disheartened when PPD was not lessened after subsequent births. This finding is consistent with the results of Zelkowitz and Milet's (1997) study, in which 48% of the women who were experiencing PPD had delivered their first child, 40% their second child, and 12% their third.…”

Section: Causal Theoriessupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Zelkowitz and Milet's (1997) sample of women with PPD illustrated that 74% had an onset in the postpartum period, but 14% had an onset during pregnancy (40% according to Whiffen, 2004), and 12% were experiencing depression before becoming pregnant. Generally, the duration is from six months to a year, although some say it can last longer (Whiffen, 1992).…”

Section: Maternal Postpartum Depression (Mppd)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Ugarizza's (2002) study, none of the participants believed that biology was the sole culprit of their distress, although a few did attribute some degree of responsibility to hormonal factors. More often, these women felt that a lack of preparedness for motherhood (Choi, Henshaw, Baker, & Tree, 2005;Homewood, Tweed, Cree, & Crossley, 2009;Zelkowitz & Milet, 1997), lack of support (also in Zelkowitz & Milet, 1997), fatigue and difficulties in breastfeeding (also in Haga, Lynne, Slinning, & Kraft, 2012) and delivery were the major contributors to their PPD. Other possible contributing factors could be high levels of stress (including work and financial; Zelkowitz & Milet, 1997), low self-esteem and loneliness, as well as feelings of incompetence, loss of self, an inability to cope (Letourneau et al, 2010), and isolation (Knudson-Martin & Silverstein, 2009).…”

Section: Causal Theoriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some researchers have concluded that professionals should screen both parents, such as with self-report scales like the Gotland Male Depression Scale (GMDS; Madsen, 2009), and the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS; Bielawska-Batorowicz & KossakowskaPetrycka, 2006;Lai, Tang, Lee, Yip & Chung, 2010;Madsen, 2009;Zelkowitz & Milet, 1997), especially if the mother is experiencing PPD (In Case, 2010;Thomas, 2010). Other suggestions for intervention and/or prevention include having professionals teach both parents about PPD and where to look for resources (Garfield & Isacco, 2009;Thomas, 2010), and to focus on the family unit (Ramchandani et al, 2008;Zelkowitz & Milet, 1997).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Other suggestions for intervention and/or prevention include having professionals teach both parents about PPD and where to look for resources (Garfield & Isacco, 2009;Thomas, 2010), and to focus on the family unit (Ramchandani et al, 2008;Zelkowitz & Milet, 1997). Researchers also suggest that organizations should have groups that can accommodate the fathers' and mothers' schedules so that both can be included (e.g., in prenatal classes; Chin, Hall & Daiches, 2011), and more men should be hired as service providers (Chin et al, 2011).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Constructions of motherhood and fatherhood in newspaper articles on maternal and paternal postpartum depression

Alexander

McMullen

2015

Gender and Language

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Postpartum depression (PPD) is a medicalized condition that exists on a continuum of postpartum mood disorders. PPD is reported to be experienced by 10-15% of mothers and 10% of fathers during pregnancy or after the birth of a baby. PPD, as experienced by either parent, is considered a serious condition because of its potential short-and long-term negative impacts on the developing child.In this thesis I explore how motherhood and fatherhood are constructed in the context of articles on maternal and paternal PPD in Canadian and American newspapers. Specifically, Ifocus on how references to the opposite partner were used to position each parent, and how each parent was positioned with respect to the new baby.In the articles on maternal PPD, husbands were either inconsequential to the story, positioned as being absent, or constructed as supporting the mother through instrumental and action-oriented behaviours. In addition, mothers were constructed as lonely and isolated because of self-imposed limitations (e.g., feeling ashamed for not being happy).In the articles on paternal PPD, the mother-father relationship was based on differences and competition. Fathers were constructed as isolated, lonely and misunderstood, most often through mother-blaming, such as by positioning the mother as responsible for the father's wellbeing (e.g., causing his PPD), and by labelling PPD "a woman's domain." Fathers' loneliness was presented as being due to imposed limitations of others (e.g., others did not properly prepare fathers for fatherhood).Mothering was constructed as being instinctually skilled, tolerant, and self-sacrificing, with the inherent capability to manage multiple roles and changes. The mother-baby relationship was constructed as naturally joyful, all-important and -consuming. Fathers were not expected to be as skilled or instinctively prepared and tolerant, to engage in chores/childcare, or to be explicitly overjoyed with the baby. Mothers were blamed for their distress in the role, while others were blamed for fathers' distresses.Gendered stereotypes in the parenting role were perpetuated in these newspaper articles.Parenthood was not constructed as a collaboration, but rather motherhood and fatherhood stood in isolation from each other, with motherhood positioned as the primary role. These constructions continue to maintain fathers in the background of parenthood as an "other," and to position mothers as responsible for the well-being of her partner, child(ren) and herself.iv Acknowledgements First and foremost, I recognize that I probably would not be here if it was not for the upbringing and unconditional support of my mom (Anna), dad (Steve) and sister (Catherine).My other half, Ben, was also a blessed angel who kept me grounded and sane! All of them kept me going, not only with their encouragement, but also with their excitement.

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Section: Causal Theoriessupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Maternal Postpartum Depression (Mppd)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Causal Theoriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Constructions of motherhood and fatherhood in newspaper articles on maternal and paternal postpartum depression

Alexander

McMullen

2015

Gender and Language

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Fathers’ Perinatal Mental Health

Fletcher¹,

Garfield²,

Matthey

2015

Identifying Perinatal Depression and Anxiety

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Infant visual habituation and parental psychological distress

Laplante

Pérusse

Boulerice

et al. 2001

Infant Mental Health Journal

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ABSTRACT:Research is equivocal concerning the relationship between parental psychological distress and infant cognitive functioning. Four potential limitations of the literature are addressed: reliance on mothers' but not fathers' psychological distress, use of categorical measures of psychological distress, use of standardized measures of infant cognitive functioning, and failure to take into account potential gender differences. Ninety-nine twin pairs and both their mothers and fathers were assessed. Infants cognitive functioning was assessed using an infant-controlled habituation-recovery-dishabituation task. Maternal and paternal psychological distress was assessed using the Symptom Check List-90-Revised. No gender differences were obtained for infant visual information-processing abilities or parental psychological distress. Maternal and paternal psychological distress was related to female visual encoding abilities only. It was concluded that parental psychological distress might degrade parent-infant interactions. Characteristics of girls when faced with parents exhibiting psychiatric difficulties may exacerbate difficulties of parent-infant interactions, thereby hindering the full development of cognitive abilities involved in the process of habituation. A need exists to examine the relationship between parental psychological distress and infant visual attention separately for girls and boys.The research reported here and the preparation of this manuscript were supported by operating grants from the National Health Research and Development Program of Canada (DP), the Medical Research Council of Canada (DP), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (DP MB), the Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec-Conseil québecois de la recherche sociale (DP/RET, MB/DP), the Fonds pour la formation de chercheurs et l'aide à la recherche (DP), a Medical Research Council of Canada postdoctoral fellowship (DPL), and infrastructure grants from the Canadian Institute of Advanced Research, the Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec, the Fonds pour la formation de chercheurs et l'aide à la recherche, the Molson Foundation, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, and the University of Montreal.We are much indebted to the two anonymous reviewers for their extremely helpful comments on earlier versions of this manuscript. We would like to thank Monica Tremblay for overseeing the daily activities of the laboratory, and to the many research assistants for diligent efforts in collecting the data. A special thanks is extended to Mark Gross of Hiloma Software Development, Inc. for creating the computer programs used to conduct the procedure and score the behavioral data. Finally, we thank all families who continue to take part in this ongoing study. • D.P. Laplante et al.RESUMEN: La investigación es equívoca en lo que respecta a la relación entre la angustia sicológica de los padres y el funcionamiento cognitivo del infante. Cuatro posibles limitaciones de la literatura respectiva se co...

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Stress and support as related to postpartum paternal mental health and perceptions of the infant

Cited by 35 publications

References 27 publications

Constructions of motherhood and fatherhood in newspaper articles on maternal and paternal postpartum depression

Constructions of motherhood and fatherhood in newspaper articles on maternal and paternal postpartum depression

Fathers’ Perinatal Mental Health

Infant visual habituation and parental psychological distress

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