The impact of maternal postnatal depression on men and their ways of fathering: an interpretative phenomenological analysis

Abstract

Evidence indicates that maternal postnatal depression can exert substantial effects on mothers, fathers and their children. There are conflicting findings about the extent to which fathers can buffer against the negative effects of maternal depression on children, and we understand relatively little about what shapes the way men father in the context of maternal postnatal depression. The present study explored men's accounts of fathering when their partner(s) was postnatally depressed. Narrative interviews were conducted with 14 British fathers and data were subjected to interpretative phenomenological analysis. An overarching theme of absence appeared to shape men's experiences of fathering, this was primarily felt as a perceived physical and/or psychological absence of their partner and co-parent. As a result, fathering in this context was a lonely and unexpectedly burdensome experience for some men. Other men felt that their ideal way of fathering had been thwarted by the perceived absence of a cohesive family unit, or by their own psychological/emotional absence as they became preoccupied with trying to understand the effects of the depression, particularly on their marital relationship. Some men, however, adapted to the situation by eventually accepting the loss of a shared parenting experience and by focusing on the father-child dyad, which they felt enabled them to emerge from the experience as better, more confident fathers. It is argued that professionals should consider the impact of postnatal depression on fathers, as well as mothers and their children, and that support should be made available to such men.

The Experiences of Male Partners of Women with Postnatal Mental Health Problems: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis

“…In terms of the experience of parenting, findings were diverse, with some participants reporting harmonious parenting, in which they felt 'in-tune' and collaborated with their partner (Marrs et al 2014;Reid et al 2017;Webster 2002), while others described feelings of being criticised and excluded by their partner (Beestin et al 2014;Boddy et al 2017;Davey et al 2006;Engqvist and Nilsson 2011). For those men who found they were parenting alone due to their partners' physical or psychological absence, feelings of solitude and burden prevailed (Beestin et al 2014;Wyatt et al 2015).…”

How do women's partners view perinatal mental health services? A qualitative meta‐synthesis

“…Qualitative research has shown that partners experience fear, confusion, concern, helplessness, frustration, isolation, and stigma when a woman has postnatal depression (Davey, Dziurawiec, & O'Brien-Malone, 2006;Engqvist & Nilsson, 2011;Meighan, Davis, Thomas, & Droppleman, 1999). They describe a sense that their coparent is "absent," resulting in loneliness and feelings of responsibility for "filling the void" (Beestin, Hugh-Jones, & Gough, 2014). Where women are admitted to a hospital with severe perinatal psychiatric difficulties, partners report shock and disbelief, trauma, stress, financial and work-related difficulties, relationship problems, and sleep deprivation (Muchena, 2007).…”

Psychosocial employment characteristics and postpartum maternal mental health symptoms

“…Although, not typically considered a mental health condition, high levels of stress may contribute to maternal depression and anxiety [Farr et al, ] and are associated with many other poor health outcomes [Glover, ]. Postpartum mental health symptoms are associated with physical and mental health consequences for mothers and their families, including insecure infant attachment, child intellectual difficulties, and a diminished relationship with the romantic partner [Hay et al, ; Davey et al, ; Groer and Morgan, ; Beestin et al, ; Farr et al, ; Zietlow et al, ].…”