Paternal postnatal depressive symptoms, infant sleeping and feeding behaviors, and rigid parental regulation: a correlational study

Abstract

Paternal postnatal depression (PND) is now recognized as a serious and prevalent problem, associated with poorer well-being and functioning of all family members. Aspects of infant temperament, sleeping and feeding perceived by parents as problematic are associated with maternal PND, however, less is known about paternal PND. This study investigated depressive symptoms (Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS)) in 219 fathers of infants aged from 1 to 24 weeks (median 7.0 weeks). Infant predictor variables were sleeping problems, feeding problems and both mother and father reported temperament. Control variables were partner's support, other support and life events. Rigidity of parenting beliefs regarding infant regulation was also measured as a potential moderating factor. Infant feeding difficulties were associated with paternal depressive symptoms, subsuming the variance associated with both sleep problems and temperament. This relationship was not moderated by regulation beliefs. It was concluded that infant feeding is important to fathers. Fathers of infants with feeding difficulties may not be able to fulfill their idealized construction of involved fatherhood. Role incongruence may have an etiological role in paternal PND.

• Infant feeding
• infant regulation problems
• infant sleeping
• paternal postnatal depression
• regulation beliefs

Current knowledge on the subject

• Rates of paternal postnatal depression approach those for mothers.

• Active and involved fathering is increasingly accepted and expected.

• Infant regulatory problems, especially sleep difficulties, are associated with maternal PND.

What this study adds

• Feeding difficulties were associated with paternal PND independent of psychosocial correlates such as social support and life events.

• This association is not moderated by the rigidity of parenting regulation beliefs.

• Given increasing expectations of involved fathering, role strain and role congruence for fathers may explain this association.