Influences of maternal postpartum depression on fathers and on father–infant interaction

Abstract

Maternal postpartum depression (PPD) has been shown to negatively influence mother-infant interaction; however, little research has explored how fathers and father-infant interaction are affected when a mother is depressed. This study examined the influence of maternal PPD on fathers and identified maternal and paternal factors associated with father-infant interaction in families with depressed as compared with nondepressed mothers. A convenience sample of 128 mother-father-infant triads, approximately half of which included women with significant symptoms of PPD at screening, were recruited from a screening sample of 790 postpartum women. Mothers and fathers completed measures of depression, marital satisfaction, and parenting stress at 2 to 3 months' postpartum and were each videotaped interacting with their infants. Results indicate that maternal PPD is associated with increased paternal depression and higher paternal parenting stress. Partners of depressed women demonstrated less optimal interaction with their infants, indicating that fathers do not compensate for the negative effects of maternal depression on the child. Although mother-infant interaction did not influence father-infant interaction, how the mother felt about her relationship with the infant did, even more so than maternal depression. The links between maternal PPD, fathers, and father-infant interaction indicate a need for further understanding of the reciprocal influences between mothers, fathers, and infants.

The impact of parents’ mental health on parent–baby interaction: A prospective study

“…Additionally/Finally, maternal postnatal affective symptoms predicted higher levels of unresponsiveness in the father's interaction with their baby. A comparable deleterious effect rather than buffering effect was also found by Goodman (2008). Overall, the present findings suggest that father-infant interactions suffer and are more sensitive to negative mood in the mother, whilst mothers compensate to improve their interaction with their babies in the context of paternal mental health problems.…”

“…Whilst some studies show an interdependence of negative intrusive interactive patterns across the mother-infant and father-infant dyads (Barnett, Deng, MillsKoonce, Willoughby & Cox , 2008) as well as maternal and paternal positive, supportive parenting patterns resembling each other (Martin, Ryan & Brooks-Gunn, 2007), other PARENTS' MENTAL HEALTH AND PARENT-BABY INTERACTIONS 5 researchers have not found any significant associations between observed mother-infant and father-infant interactions (Goodman, 2008).…”

“…Similarly paternal depression has been associated with a less optimal father -infant relationship (Field, Hossain & Malphurs, 1999;Field, 2010; for a review, see Wilson & Durbin, 2010) with examples of less involvement with their child (Roggman, Boyce, Cook & Cook, 2002). Also, maternal depression has been shown to indirectly influence the father-infant interaction negatively (Bradley & Slade, 2011;Goodman, 2008). Comparable effects of maternal and paternal depression on parenting behaviours have been found (e.g., Cummings, Keller & Davies, 2005;Leinonen, Solantaus & Punamaki, 2003).…”

As relações entre depressão materna e relatos maternos acerca do envolvimento paterno: um estudo longitudinal

“…Considerando a função protetora que o envolvimento paterno pode ter sobre o desenvolvimento infantil, no contexto da depressão materna, é essencial que se investigue se a participação do pai nos cuidados com a criança aumenta ou pode ser reduzida, de acordo com os indicadores de depressão da mãe. O estudo de Goodman (2008) (Mendonça et al, 2012). A inconsistência dos achados pode estar relacionada a aspectos teórico-metodológicos, como a diversidade de constructos e medidas utilizadas na avaliação de ambas as variáveis, ou ao tipo de informante, isto é, se o envolvimento paterno foi avaliado pelo relato da mãe ou do próprio pai.…”

“…De qualquer modo, é preciso considerar o fato de que diferentes estudos internacionais revisados respaldavam a previsão de correlações negativas entre a depressão materna e o envolvimento paterno (Goodman, 2008;Séjourné et al, 2012;Smith & Howard, 2008). Nesse sentido, é importante que estudos brasileiros continuem investigando essa problemática, para que seja possível explorar melhor a hipótese acerca do impacto positivo da depressão materna sobre o envolvimento paterno, e se essa relação pode estar permeada por fenômenos típicos da nossa cultura, já que os estudos internacionais não confi rmam essa tendência.…”