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Depression, perceived stress, and social support among first‐time Chinese mothers and fathers in the postpartum period
Author(s) -
Gao Lingling,
Chan Sally Waichi,
Mao Qing
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
research in nursing and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1098-240X
pISSN - 0160-6891
DOI - 10.1002/nur.20306
Subject(s) - social support , edinburgh postnatal depression scale , depression (economics) , postpartum depression , postpartum period , perceived stress scale , mainland china , psychology , rating scale , cross sectional study , medicine , scale (ratio) , clinical psychology , psychiatry , stress (linguistics) , china , pregnancy , developmental psychology , depressive symptoms , anxiety , psychotherapist , philosophy , law , macroeconomics , linguistics , pathology , genetics , biology , quantum mechanics , political science , physics , economics
We compared the prevalence of depression in the postpartum period and its relationship with perceived stress and social support in first‐time mothers and fathers. A cross‐sectional study was conducted in mainland China with a convenience sample of 130 pairs of parents. Measures taken at 6–8 weeks after delivery included the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Social Support Rating Scale. Eighteen (13.8%) of the mothers and 14 (10.8%) of the fathers were suffering from depression. No signficant differences were found in their prevalence rates. Perceived stress, social support, and partner's depression were significantly associated with depression. These findings suggest counseling, support, and routine screening for depression should be provided to both mothers and fathers. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 32:50–58, 2009