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New Study About Dads and Postpartum Depression

A new study will look at the experiences of fathers whose partners have postpartum depression (PPD).  Postpartum mood disorders, are the most common health problem experience by women after childbirth. The research team is led by Professor Nicole Letourneau of University of New Brunswick's Faculty of Nursing. The exact number of mothers who suffer from PPD, the most common postpartum mood disorder, is not known; estimates range from 10 percent to 25 percent.

Letourneau's previous research includes a study which focused on mothers with PPD, their needs, the services available to them, barriers to accessing and seeking supports and services and their feelings about supports offered to them. "One finding was that women perceived their husbands as trying to be supportive but restricted in their ability to be supportive due to their limited understanding of PPD, " Letourneau explains. "We are also aware, from other research, that about half of fathers whose partners have PPD, show some of the symptoms themselves." Since fathers, or other partners, are in a position to provide important social supports to mothers with PPD, and are often the first to see that their partner is having problems, we want to understand more about their experiences."

Initially, Letourneau and her colleagues, interviewed five fathers whose partners had postpartum depression. "The men were very clear about the fact that while they were very involved with parenting, they felt left out of the partnership when it came to PPD," Letourneau explains. "They really wanted to fix it, but had little clarity about what role they should play or how to discuss PPD with their partner."

The research group has applied to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research for funding for a fuller study which will include developing and testing a support program for partners of women with PPD.

 

Postpartum depression and the impact on Dads – a pilot study.

Principal Investigator, Nicole Letourneau – Faculty of Nursing, University of New Brunswick, Canada Chair in Health Child Development.

Co-Investigators: Linda Duffett-Leger, Faculty of Nursing, University of New Brunswick

Miriam Stewart, Social Support Research Program, University of Alberta

Kathleen Hegadoren, Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta

Carol Hauer, Postpartum Support International - Families Matter, Calgary, Alberta

(This study is not affiliated with FIRA.)