Recent research has revealed that 30% of fathers screened positive for PPD using the same screening tool typically employed for mothers.
Published Oct 13, 2023 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 13, 2023 | 9:00 AM
The study underscores the necessity of recognising and addressing the potential challenges posed by PPD in both mothers and fathers. (Creative Commons)
Childbirth represents a momentous and transformative event, marking the beginning of a fresh chapter in the lives of both parents. It encompasses not only the intricate process of ushering a new life into the world, but also the enduring voyage of nurturing, supporting, and guiding that child as they mature and evolve.
However, the impact of childbirth extends to the woman’s body, which undergoes substantial changes during the birthing process. And not to mention the effect it has on her mental and emotional well-being.
But did you know that the events following childbirth can impact the well-being of the father too?
Postpartum depression (PPD) is one of the emotional repercussions experienced by one in five or about 22 percent of women in India following childbirth.
It manifests as an enduring sense of despondency, hopelessness, and emotional turmoil, rendering it arduous for new mothers to attend to their own well-being and the needs of their infants.
However, recent research has revealed that PPD is not limited to mothers exclusively; it also has a notable impact on fathers.
A pilot study — Screening fathers for postpartum depression in a maternal-child health clinic — carried out at the University of Illinois, Chicago, advocates for the screening of fathers for this condition.
This study, published in the journal BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, underscores the need to recognise and address the potential challenges posed by PPD — in both mothers and fathers.
With the consent of the mothers, researchers conducted interviews and screened 24 fathers — and the results were striking!
Model of paternal postpartum depression. (Sad dads: Paternal Postpartum- Pilyoung Kim, James E Swain)
It was found that 30 percent of these fathers screened positive for postpartum depression using the same screening tool typically employed to screen mothers. Dr Sam Wainwright, the lead author of the study, emphasised the significance of this finding, underlining the need to inquire about the well-being of new fathers as well.
“A lot of dads are stressed. They’re scared. They’re struggling with balancing work and parental and partner responsibilities,” he said, in a statement. “Men are often not doing well, but no one is asking them about it,” he added.
Talking to new fathers about their mental health has additional importance when considering how it can impact their partners’ health. “A woman at risk for postpartum depression is much more likely to get postpartum depression if she has a depressed partner,” said Wainwright.
Other studies have estimated that 8-13 percent of new fathers have postpartum depression. Wainwright suspects this study’s rate was higher because nearly 90 percent of the participants identified as being from a racial or ethnic group that faces issues of structural racism and social determinants that can worsen mental health.
The study was conducted at UI Health Two-Generation Clinic. Members of the clinical team began chatting with fathers to see how they were doing. Wainwright said they would often hear comments like, “I’m really stressed, but I don’t want my partner to know because I’m here to support her.”
This study grew out of such conversations.
These conversations also spurred a larger research project such that researchers have begun to learn more about the experiences of fathers, especially related to their mental and physical health.
“Perhaps well-baby visits aren’t the only place to reach fathers,” Wainwright suggested. He stated the importance of talking to fathers-to-be in the obstetrics waiting area, too. He has also asked to screen fathers for conditions like high blood pressure during these conversations.
“The medical world struggles to connect with young men who often aren’t eager to see a doctor,” Wainwright said. “So reaching them as they enter fatherhood presents an important opportunity.”
“The overarching goal of this line of research is to better understand how to help men stay healthy so that their relationships and families are healthy, too,” Wainwright explained.
“How can we show them that it’s important to take care of yourself for the sake of your baby, for the sake of your partner and for your own sake?” he asked.
“Prior research has found that fathers can feel marginalised or excluded from perinatal care spaces and can also be resistant to interventions conceived to foster their inclusion. This may be driven by many factors, including lack of paid parental leave, inconvenient scheduling during work hours, social biases against men taking time off to take their children to the doctor, and negative and excluding experiences in maternal-child care spaces, including the delivery room,” said Wainwright.
Dr Pragya Rashmi, a psychologist at Asha Hospital in Hyderabad, told South First that while PPD in women can occur due to a combination of hormonal changes, biological factors, physical stress, and other emotional factors, “for men, it may occur due to psychological factors related to adjusting to a new role as a parent, the responsibilities of caring for a newborn, and sleep deprivation as well as personal history of depression or other mental health issues.”
She added, “Also, lack of limited support from a partner, family, or friends can be a significant risk factor.”
She stated that outside stressors, such as financial difficulties, relationship problems, or other life stressors, can also contribute to PPD.
