Only Mothers Suffer from Postpartum Depression: A Misconception

Transitioning to parenthood is often an exciting and joyful experience. However, this is not always the case. To some new parents, it can be challenging and difficult. There are new parents who experience feelings of depression after a child’s birth. Bruce (2003) defined Postpartum Depression or PPD as a complex mix of physical, emotional, and behavioral changes that happen to some women after giving birth. Because PPD is frequently seen in women, people believe that only mothers suffer from PPD, and fathers are unlikely to have this illness. However, this assumption should be challenged. This paper will explain how men could suffer from PPD; discuss its symptoms and effects on fathers’ marriage, parenting, and child development; and lastly, how to help fathers with PPD.

There are reasons why people assume that fathers are not likely to suffer from Postpartum Depression. First, the knowledge that PPD in women is primarily caused by hormonal changes leads to a false conclusion that because men are not likely to have hormonal changes, they have less likelihood of acquiring PPD. Second, fathers are seen to be physically, emotionally, and mentally strong. Because of this, people assume that it is not possible for them to be depressed.

In contrast to this assumption, there are a lot of studies that prove that PPD is experienced not only by new mothers but also by new fathers. In fact, as per the meta-analysis of 43 studies done by Paulson and Bazemore (2010), one out of ten new fathers experience depression. This claim is backed by a study done by Stadtlander (2015) that suggests that in the first postpartum year, four to twenty-five percent of new fathers experience PPD and that the prevalence might be underreported since Postpartum Depression is not common in men. This problem is compounded even more by the fact that men are often silent in seeking medical help. Goldenberg (2014) claims that in Canada alone, it is estimated that eight out of ten men are not willing to seek medical help until convinced by their companions.

Research suggests that a “high level of depression in new dads is associated with the existence of depression in their wives [during and after pregnancy]” (Bielawska & Kossakowska, 2006). A new father might be unfamiliar and struggle with childcare and performing tasks related to childbirth. In such situations, the new father turns to his wife as his first source of support. However, Bielawska and Kossakowska (2016) suggest that when his wife is also experiencing depressive symptoms and she herself needs additional support and help, she might not be able to fully support her husband which affects the husband’s physical and emotional well-being. They concluded that such situations, coupled with financial burdens and unmet expectations, might lead to increased depressive symptoms.

Research claims that fathers who lack support from their wives and have a difficult relationship with their partners are more likely to suffer from depression. Researchers also observed that fathers who received “less support than they expected from their partners were three times more likely to also report depressive symptoms” (Massoudi, Hwang & Wickerberg, 2016). Their study also reasons that even though fathers are expected to support their companions during pregnancy and after giving birth, it is also crucially necessary for them to “receive support from their partners” (Massoudi, Hwang, & Wickerberg, 2016).

Aside from having a difficult relationship, studies also point out that new fathers who lack support from family and friends are more likely to be depressed (Massoudi, Hwang, & Wickerberg, 2016). Massoudi et al (2016) found that “lack of social support, especially from family members, is a factor that has an impact on depression in new fathers” (Massoudi, Hwang, & Wickerberg, 2016). This makes sense. When a man transitions to fatherhood, it could be overwhelming and tiring for him, and he might feel inadequate. In such circumstances, what he needs is encouragement, support, and motivation, from his first level of support–his family. When he feels discouraged, unsupported, or demotivated, especially by the people closest to him, his chances of being depressed increase.

In addition to maternal depression, marital problems and lack of partner support, lack of support from family and friends, there are also other factors that correlate to Paternal PPD. Other things that increase the likelihood of depression in fathers include low education level, problems at work, “a history of depression, having more than one child, and experiencing two or more stressful events in the past year” (Massoudi, Hwang, & Wickerberg, 2016). Knowing all these factors will help us understand how these factors affect the mental state of new dads.

Paternal Postpartum Depression negatively affects the father’s marriage, parenting, and his child’s development. Research suggests that new parents who are both depressed have a “poorer sense of coherence” in their marriage or relationship and that they have a higher tendency to see the temperament of their kid as “more difficult than [parents] without depressive symptoms” (Kertis, Engstrom, Edlund, & Aarts, 2013). Huang and Warner (2005) also found in their studies that highly depressed dads are less involved with their children than dads who are less depressed. Mitchell (2011) found that four out of ten depressed fathers “admitted to spanking 1-year-old children, compared to 13% of dads who weren’t depressed” (Mitchell, 2011). Mitchell says that “spanking children at any age have negative effects, such as being physically abused or becoming physically aggressive later in life” (Mitchell, 2011). Knowing these effects will help society treat this issue seriously.

How should we help fathers with Postpartum Depression? Dr. Davis, who was quoted by Mitchell (2011) recommends that we watch for symptoms. A depressed father could show irritability, lack of interest in things he enjoys doing before, and is unable to engage with his child (Mitchell, 2011). He also recommends that “programs, parents, and practitioners can get the message out that dads can experience depression with a newborn in the house, offer form of depression screening, and link dads to care through a health care provider” (Mitchell, 2011).

In conclusion, researchers agree that fathers can suffer from Postpartum Depression too. Overall, the studies conclude that symptoms of Paternal PPD include the existence of the wife’s PPD, relationship problems with and lack of support from the wife, lack of support from family members and friends, having more than one child, low educational attainment, problems at work, and distressful events in the past 2 years. It is obvious that the existence of depression in a father can cause problems not only in his well-being, but also in his marriage, parenting, and the development of his child. Because of the lack of knowledge about this issue, it is recommended that we spread awareness about new dads having PPD. New fathers who are suffering silently should talk it out and seek medical help. It might also be helpful if further research is conducted regarding how to appropriately respond to and interact with depressed fathers.

References

Bielawska, B. E., & Kossakowska, P. K. (2006). Depressive mood in men after the birth of their offspring in relation to a partner’s depression, social support, fathers’ personality and prenatal expectations. Journal of Reproductive & Infant Psychology, 24(1), 21–29. https://doi.org/10.1080/02646830500475179

Bruce, D. F. (2003, March 25). An overview of postpartum depression. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/postpartum-depression

Goldenberg, S. L. (2014). Status of men’s health in Canada. Canadian Urological Association Journal, 8(7–8), S142–S144. https://byui.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip&db=edsghw&AN=edsgcl.379234705&site=eds-live&scope=site

Huang, C., & Warner, L. A. (2005). Relationship Characteristics and Depression among Fathers with Newborns. Social Service Review, 79(1), 95–118. https://doi.org/10.1086/426719

Kertis, B., Engstrom, G., Edlund, B., & Aarts, C. (2013). Association between mothers’ and fathers’ depressive symptoms, sense of coherence and perception of their child’s temperament in early parenthood in Sweden. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 41(3), 233–239. https://www.jstor.org/stable/45150695

Massoudi, P., Hwang, C. P., & Wickerberg, B. (2016). Fathers’ depressive symptoms in the postnatal period: Prevalence and correlates in a population-based Swedish study. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 44(7), 688–694. https://www.jstor.org/stable/48512697

Mitchell, P. (2011). Depressed Dads. Children’s Voice, 20(2), 32–33. https://www.jstor.org/stable/48626215

Paulson, J. F., Bazemore, S. D. (2010). Prenatal and postpartum depression in fathers and its association with maternal depression. JAMA, 303(19), 1961–1969. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/185905

Stadtlander, L. (2015). Paternal Postpartum Depression. International Journal of Childbirth Education, 30(2), 11–13. https://eds.s.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?vid=2&sid=9427ccd4-1807-4d90-8979-bd7aa6eb82ed%40redis&bdata=JkF1dGhUeXBlPWlwJnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#AN=109802673&db=awh