Factors Related to Postpartum Depression Among First Time Mothers and Fathers

Introduction:

Being a first time mother or father is an important transition in life that affects mental health and may lead to postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is a deviation of emotional, thinking and perception that cause changes of physical and psychological of mother or father. It represented by fatigue, headache, blues, changes in appetite and use of drugs or alcohol. Postpartum depression is increasing worldwide, both in Europe and Asia. Postpartum depression affected to father, mother and child such as decrease functional of father, difficulties in adaptation to mother’s and father’s role, and decrease interaction with their child.

Purpose:

The purpose of this descriptive correlational research study was to explore stress, social support and postpartum depression among first time mothers and fathers.

Methods:

The subjects were 116 fathers and mothers of children aged 6-8 weeks. Data were collected at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital and Chiang Mai Health Promotion Hospital, Thailand during June to September, 2014. The research instruments used were The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS): Thai version translated by Pitanupong et al. (2007), The Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10): Thai version translated by Wongpakaran & Wongpakaran (2010), the Social Support Questionnaire for Father developed by Supakorn Chaina (Chaina, 2013), and the  Social Support Questionnaire for Postpartum Mother  developed by Nalinee Sithiboonma (Nalinee , 2015).  Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and Spearman’s Rank Correlation.

Results:

Results of the study revealed that first time mothers and fathers had postpartum depression 48.28% and 24.14%, respectively. There was a statistically significant moderate positive correlation between stress and postpartum depression for both the first time mothers and fathers (r = .493, p < .01; r = .543, p < .01), and low negative correlation between social support and postpartum depression in both the first time mothers and fathers (r = -.235, p < .05; r = -.278, p < .01).

Conclusion:

The findings from this study can be used as baseline data to plan for nursing intervention to prevent postpartum depression in the first time mothers and fathers.

Abstract summary:

This study revealed postpartum depression and factors affecting among first time mothers and fathers in Thailand