Prevalence of paternal perinatal depressive mood and its relationship with maternal depression symptomatology: An Italian study

  • Authors

    • Maria Caterina Cattaneo Consultorio Familiare Accreditato ASL“Genitori Oggi”-CAV Mangiagalli, Milan, Italy.
    • Elena Alessandra Macchi Consultorio Familiare Accreditato ASL“Genitori Oggi”-CAV Mangiagalli, Milan, Italy.
    • Roberta Salerno Consultorio Familiare Accreditato ASL“Genitori Oggi”-CAV Mangiagalli, Milan, Italy.
    • Valentina Chiorino Consultorio Familiare Accreditato ASL“Genitori Oggi”-CAV Mangiagalli, Milan, Italy.
    • Sara Roveraro Consultorio Familiare Accreditato ASL“Genitori Oggi”-CAV Mangiagalli, Milan, Italy.
    • Francesco Barretta Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan. Epidemiology Unit, Department of Preventive Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda- Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
    • Camilla Barbara Fontana NICU, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
    • Fabio Mosca NICU, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
    2015-09-13
    https://doi.org/10.14419/ijans.v4i2.4738
  • EPDS, Maternal Mood, Paternal Perinatal Depression, Parental Couple, Screening.

  • Abstract

    Background: Literature shows that the birth of a child is a vulnerability moment for the mental well-being of both parents.

    Objectives: estimate the prevalence of a depressive symptomatology in an Italian sample of new fathers during the first six months postpartum and provide its association with maternal mood.

    Methods: 244 neo- parents filled the Italian version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and a General Information Questionnaire between 2/5 days after delivery during the hospitalization in the Mother-infant Department of an Italian hospital and after 2 and 6 months postpartum by mailed.

    Results: in the first week postpartum, 6.65% of fathers had a EPDS score ≥ 10, this percentage decreases to 2.63% at 2 months and 2.59% at 6 months postpartum. Previous history of anxiety/panic attacks in fathers was a risk factor for a depressive symptomatology of them after 2 and 6 months postpartum. Paternal and maternal depressive mood were correlated most of the times and associated especially after births when a depressed father is more than 5 time frequently associated to a depressed mother 2 months later.

    Conclusions: experimental data suggest that neo-fathers experiment depressive symptoms especially in the immediate postpartum when their mood is associated with maternal mood in a significant way. Health care professionals should pay great attention to the neo-parental couple mood.

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  • How to Cite

    Cattaneo, M. C., Macchi, E. A., Salerno, R., Chiorino, V., Roveraro, S., Barretta, F., Fontana, C. B., & Mosca, F. (2015). Prevalence of paternal perinatal depressive mood and its relationship with maternal depression symptomatology: An Italian study. International Journal of Advanced Nursing Studies, 4(2), 103-109. https://doi.org/10.14419/ijans.v4i2.4738

    Received date: 2015-05-15

    Accepted date: 2015-08-16

    Published date: 2015-09-13