“I Wanted to Be There as a Father, but I Couldn’t”: A Qualitative Study of Fathers’ Experiences of Postpartum Depression and Their Help-Seeking Behavior

Abstract

Postpartum depression (PPD) is one of the most common mental health problems among new parents. Past studies have examined PPD in women; however, the condition is less understood in men. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of men or fathers with PPD and to understand the barriers and facilitators of help-seeking among fathers with PPD. Eight fathers with PPD were interviewed and data were subsequently analyzed through interpretative phenomenological analysis. The fathers perceived fatherhood as an overwhelming experience and feelings of inadequacy and powerlessness were two of the main themes in the fathers’ experiences of PPD. The feeling of inadequacy and powerlessness was related to the fathers’ expectations for themselves and their role as a father. The fathers’ sense of inadequacy and powerlessness sometimes turned into anger and frustrations. In addition, the fathers experienced a variety of contributing stressors around the birth of their child. Further, the analysis revealed how the fathers’ help-seeking behavior was influenced by five contributing factors: recognition and perception of depressive symptoms; knowledge and beliefs about PPD; taboo, stigma and conforming to masculine norms; the fathers’ partner; screening and perinatal healthcare services. Paternal PPD has a significant impact on the fathers’ wellbeing and everyday lives. Findings indicate that parents-to-be may benefit from education on paternal PDD, and they highlight the importance of screening for paternal PPD and support tailored to the needs of fathers with signs of PPD.

Regretting fatherhood in Spain

“…In Spain, Barbeta-Viñas & Cano (2020) identified what they defined as the 'fatigued father' profile in committed fathers who found their own conditions unacceptable for childcare. Similarly in Sweden, Pedersen et al (2021) observed some men committed to childcare to suffer post-partum depression and regret. Hence it is important to verify whether regret is greater among fathers deeply involved in childcare.…”

Paternal perinatal depression: A concept analysis

“…Other somatic dysfunction includes loss of appetite, weight loss, less physical activity and poor concentration (Ballard et al, 1994). , 2021), resentment of the infant (Eddy et al, 2019;Pedersen et al, 2021) and less interaction such as communication and physical contact with children (Boyce et al, 2007;Sethna et al, 2015).…”

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

“…As a result, they experience unique barriers to initiating help‐seeking and receiving support. Pedersen et al (2021) found that fathers believe PND is a condition which affects mothers, so they may not identify with the illness despite feeling unwell. Mental health literacy for PND in fathers is lower than that for mothers (Swami, Barron et al, 2020a), meaning self‐identification may be limited.…”

“…To destigmatise paternal PND it is important to provide non‐judgmental care to fathers with depression, but the condition is considered “taboo” (Pedersen et al, 2021, p. 6). Stigma around male mental health can be social or self in origin (Covello, 2020): with paternal PND, it is likely both.…”

“…Postnatally, fathers experience relationship changes (Baldwin et al, 2019; Edhborg et al, 2016), including feeling less intimate than before (Darwin et al, 2017). A key observation is that men's partners were the trigger for their help‐seeking (Darwin et al, 2017) with fathers identifying that partners could have motivated them to seek help (Pedersen et al, 2021). This mirrors Norcross et al (1996) who identify that women have a significant influence on men's health‐seeking generally.…”