The psychological impact of premature birth on mothers and fathers

Abstract

This longitudinal study compared the psychological impact of premature birth on women who were high risk during pregnancy and their partners with two comparison groups delivered at term (one high risk, one low risk). The subjects (N = 211 women, 123 men) were studied at four time periods between mid-pregnancy and four months post-delivery. Neither the women nor men differed significantly in anxiety, depression, sense of mastery, or self-esteem after the baby's birth. Maternal self-esteem increased after the birth; maternal depression scores differed significantly for the group by time interaction. Depression scores ranged widely at all times, with a significant proportion of women and smaller proportion of men indicating risks for clinical depression.