Postpartum depression, father's involvement, and marital and co-parental relationships from mothers' and fathers' perspectives in a low-income Brazilian sample

Abstract

Based on a family systems approach, our objective is to understand how postpartum depression (PPD) affects and is affected by family relationships. Specifically, we intend to better understand the relationship between PPD, father's involvement with the child and the marital and co-parental relationship. Fathers' and mothers' depression in the years following their child's birth is also considered. This study is part of a larger four-year longitudinal project on the origins and consequences of postpartum depression in low-income Brazilian families conducted at Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil. A subsample of 65 mothers completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) three months after delivery. The mothers and 45 fathers completed the EPDS three years later. Mothers and fathers evaluated their family relationships at their child's third birthday. High percentages of depression were found in mothers at both periods and in fathers three years following their child's birth. Mothers' negative perception of father involvement and of the co-parental and marital relationship was related to their own depression and to their partner's depression. Fathers' own depression was related to their perception of greater involvement in the family. Fathers also reported being more involved with their three-year-old child when mothers had PPD. These findings reinforce the necessity of involving the whole family in prevention programs and treatment.

Keywords:

• postpartum depression
• father involvement
• marital relationship
• co-parental relationship

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by grants from the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP), Brazil (nos. 10/52613-8 and 06/59192-2). The authors thank the families who generously participated in this project.