Attitudes to emotional expression, social support and postnatal adjustment in new parents

Abstract

The study investigated whether perceived antenatal social support and attitudes to emotional expression are associated with postnatal distress in new parents and whether attitudes to emotional expression are themselves linked with perceptions of social support. Eighty‐six women and 66 men expecting their first baby completed the DUKE‐UNC Functional Social Support Questionnaire (FSSQ) and the Attitudes Towards Emotional Expression (AEE) both antenatally and postnatally. Depressive symptoms and well‐being were measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Well‐being Questionnaire (WBQ), respectively, in the third trimester and at 6 weeks postnatally. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was also used to measure depressive symptoms in the postnatal period. Both mothers and fathers reporting higher perceived social support in pregnancy reported significantly lower levels of distress 6 weeks postnatally. Perceptions of emotional support for fathers and both practical and emotional social support for mothers decreased between pregnancy and the postnatal period. Parents with more positive attitudes towards emotional expression reported significantly higher social support. Attitude towards emotional expression was not associated with distress postnatally.

Perceived social support may be protective for new fathers as well as mothers. Further research regarding the link between the psychological health of new fathers, and the transition of the couple to a family is needed.

Keywords:

• emotional
• father/s
• mother/s
• postnatal depression
• social interaction

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all the parents who participated in this study.