The Relationship Between Paternal and Maternal Depression During the Perinatal Period: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Background: Meta-analyses suggest an increased prevalence of paternal depression during the perinatal period of around 10%. The relationship between paternal and maternal symptoms, however, has received little attention.Objective: To determine pooled estimates pertaining to the relationship between paternal and maternal depression during the perinatal period according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement.Data sources: Studies reporting on the relationship between depression in fathers and mothers between the first trimester and the first year following childbirth were identified using PubMed, PsycINFO, and EMBASE for the period between November 2009 and February 2020.Study selection: A total of 28 primary, empirical studies published in English or German, reporting effect estimates for the relationship of depression in mother-father/partner dyads, involving 11,593 couples, were included. Ten studies included multiple assessments, resulting in 64 extracted effects. Analysis:Information on correlations and odds ratios were extracted. Four random-effects analyses were conducted for the pooled association between paternal and maternal depression: (a) during the prenatal and (b) during the postnatal period, as well as for the prospective relationships between (c) paternal depression and maternal depression at a later timepoint, and (d) vice versa. Models were specified as restricted maximum-likelihood estimation. Heterogeneity was assessed using H 2 and I 2 . Funnel plots, the Egger method, and the trim-and-fill test were used to assess publication bias. Sensitivity analyses with and without studies for which we approximated r were conducted.Data synthesis: With substantial heterogeneity, positive associations were found between paternal and maternal depression (a) during pregnancy (r = 0.238), (b) in the Thiel et al.Parental Perinatal Depression: Meta-Analysis postnatal period (r = 0.279), as well as for the prospective relationship between (c) paternal and later maternal depression (r = 0.192), and (d) maternal and later paternal depression (r = 0.208). Conclusion:Paternal depression showed positive correlations with maternal depression across the perinatal period. Given notable methodological and cultural heterogeneity and limitations of individual studies, it was not possible to further identify determining or moderating factors. Increasing evidence for implications of parental depression for child development warrants further scientific attention.

Associations of Partnership Quality and Father-to-Child Attachment During the Peripartum Period. A Prospective-Longitudinal Study in Expectant Fathers

“…There is also evidence for higher rates of anxiety disorders during pregnancy in both mothers and fathers (27). Further, maternal and paternal anxiety and depressive disorders appear to be correlated, and may even accumulate in couples (15,28,29). Some studies have also found support for paternalspecific course patterns.…”

Examining the Effectiveness of the Fathers and Babies Intervention: A Pilot Study

“…There may also be benefits for the mental health of mothers enrolled in HV if their partner receives FAB. Paternal depression has been consistently associated with elevated maternal depression (Paulson and Bazemore, 2010;Thiel et al, 2020), and persistence of maternal postpartum depression has been shown to be directly influenced by the presence of depression in their partners (Vismara et al, 2016). Thus, implementation of FAB in conjunction with MB may allow HV programs to more effectively address maternal depression than through their usual services, or their usual services enhanced only with mental health interventions that are maternal-focused.…”

“…Prevalence rates estimate that 5-13% of fathers will experience depression during their partner's pregnancy and the first year postpartum (Paulson and Bazemore, 2010;Cameron et al, 2016;Pace et al, 2016), with a recent meta-analysis indicating that prior mental illness and paternal unemployment were the strongest predictors of paternal depression, with financial instability, limited social support, and low level of paternal education also associated (Ansari et al, 2021). Two meta-analyses have also highlighted positive, moderate correlations between paternal depression and maternal depression (Paulson and Bazemore, 2010;Thiel et al, 2020). The transition into fatherhood itself has been associated with an increase in depressive symptoms of as much as 68% in the first 5 years after the birth of the child (Garfield et al, 2014).…”

Messinstrumente zur peripartalen Diagnostik von Depression, Angst und Stress (Teil 1 einer Serie zur psychologischen Diagnostik im Peripartalzeitraum)

“…Befunde verweisen bspw. auf ein erhöhtes Risiko, an depressiven Symptomen zu leiden, wenn dies im Peripartalzeitraum bereits beim Partner nachgewiesen ist [47]. Im schlimmsten Fall entsteht bei Paaren so eine besonders hohe Belastung, die sich nachteilig auf die Beziehungsqualität und das Verhältnis zum Kind auswirken kann [48][49][50].…”