The correlation between spousal support and postpartum depression in fathers.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted using a descriptive design to examine the correlation between spousal support and postpartum depression (PPD) in fathers. DESIGN AND METHODS: The participants of the study were the fathers of infants born in the obstetrics and gynecology clinic of a state hospital affiliated with the Ministry of Health in a province in Turkey. FINDINGS: It was determined that while the possibility of paternal PPD was lower in the early postpartum period (p < 0.001), it increased in the late postpartum period (p < 0.001). A negative statistically significant correlation was identified between the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) scores and the Spouse Support Scale (SSS) scores of the participants in the early postpartum period (p = 0.031). There was a highly negative significant correlation between late postpartum EPDS scores and the early (p < 0.001) and late period (p < 0.001) SSS scores. A highly negative significant correlation was observed between the mean score of the early spousal support period and the mean score of the late spousal support period (p < 0.001). In this study, spousal support decreased PPD in fathers. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: This study indicated the necessity of routinely screening men for PPD symptoms. Early diagnosis and spousal support would contribute to reducing early and late paternal PPD, thus protecting the family's integrity.

Prenatal distress levels of pregnant women in Turkey and affecting factors: a multicentre study.

This study was conducted to determine prenatal distress levels of pregnant women from seven provinces of Turkey and factors affecting prenatal distress levels. The multicentre descriptive study included 2365 pregnant women who were in the twentieth gestational week and above. The data were collected using the pregnancy information form, prenatal distress questionnaire and spousal support scale. Descriptive statistics, Student's t-test, ANOVA and logistic regression were used to evaluate the data. The results of this study demonstrated that pregnant women's prenatal distress levels are affected by such factors as the region lived in, lack of spousal support and being a primary school graduate. Nurses should develop intervention strategies that involve the pregnant woman's spouse to reduce prenatal distress and the factors affecting prenatal distress.Impact statementWhat is already known on this subject? Prenatal distress can have significant effects on pregnancy, maternal health and human development across the lifespan.What the results of this study add? Spousal support could also have an effect on the psychological health of mothers.What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Nurses and midwives monitor the pregnant women, and therefore, they should evaluate the prenatal distress levels in the prenatal period, plan intervention strategies for pregnant women with high stress levels and include the pregnant women's spouses in these intervention strategies.