The association between paternal childcare involvement and postpartum depression and anxiety among Chinese women—a path model analysis

Abstract

Depression and anxiety are among the most common morbidities during the perinatal period. Very few studies have been conducted to examine the association between paternal childcare involvement and postpartum depression (PPD) and anxiety (PPA) in East Asian cultures. This study aims to examine the association between fathers' involvement in childcare and mothers' mental health and explores the potential mediating effects of the mother and child's health among a national sample of Chinese women. This is a cross-sectional, self-administered online survey of maternal women (N = 778) within 1 year after childbirth in China. The questionnaire comprised of sociodemographics, fathers' childcare involvement, child and mother's physical health, and mothers' postpartum mental health status. A path analysis model was constructed to examine the correlation between paternal childcare involvement and maternal depression and anxiety within 1-year postpartum. The mediating effect of the mother and child's physical health was also explored in the model. Paternal involvement in childcare was significantly associated with lower PPD (β = − .36, p < 0.001) and PPA (β = − .29, p < 0.001) levels of mothers after covariates were adjusted. Furthermore, women's physical health partially mediated the association between paternal involvement and PPD, and child's health partially mediated the association between paternal involvement and PPA and PPD. Our findings emphasize the essential role of father's childcare involvement and the need to promote culturally tailored intervention programs, which may improve the mental health status among Chinese postpartum mothers.

Prevalence of Perinatal Anxiety and Related Disorders in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

“…Among these, the pooled point prevalence was 23.9% (95% CI, 20.5%-27.4%; n = 149 485). The prevalence was significantly lower post partum (16.2%; 95% CI, 12.5%-20.3%; 32 studies; n = 17 960; P = .02). Nine studies measured the prevalence of pregnant and postpartum women, with combined results showing a prevalence of 16.4% (95% CI, 5.9%-30.6%; n = 6108).…”

“…This subgroup included only 9 studies, all of which were performed in Turkey. The lowest prevalence was found in East Asia and the Pacific (12.7%; 95% CI, 10.5%-15.1%; 61 studies; n = 103 180). Of the studies conducted in East Asia and the Pacific, 53 (86.9%) were conducted in China (eFigure 7 in Supplement 1).…”

“…While investigating generalized anxiety by country income status, we found a higher prevalence among studies performed in lower-middle–income countries (27.6%; 95% CI, 21.6%-33.9%; 59 studies; n = 25 109) compared with low-income countries (24.0%; 95% CI, 15.3%-33.8%; 11 studies; n = 4961). Upper-middle–income countries had the lowest prevalence (19.1%; 95% CI, 16.0%-22.4%; 110 studies; n = 138 496).…”

“…Generalized anxiety disorder (including anxiety not specified) was the most commonly reported anxiety disorder, examined by 184 of 203 studies (90.6%) . The pooled point prevalence for generalized anxiety disorder was 22.2% (95% CI, 19.4%-25.0%; n = 173 553).…”

“…Our search identified 10 617 studies; 1231 full texts were reviewed, and of these, 203 studies were included (Figure 1; eTable 2 in Supplement 1). Cumulatively, outcomes were reported for 212 318 perinatal women (from conception to 12 months post birth) from 33 LMICs. The prevalence estimates of 6 anxiety and related disorders were reported: generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and adjustment disorder.…”