ABSTRACT
The purpose of this paper is to present research on the effects of postpartum depression (PPD) on mothers, fathers, and children that point to a re-conceptualization of PPD as a mental health condition that affects the whole family. As such, the objectives of this paper are to discuss: (1) the incidence and effects of PPD on mothers and fathers; (2) common predictors of PPD in mothers and fathers, and (3) the effects of PPD on parenting and parent-child relationships, and (4) the effects of PPD on children's health, and their cognitive and social-emotional development. Finally, the implications for screening and intervention if depression is re-conceptualized as a condition of the family are discussed.
Subject(s)
Depression, Postpartum/nursing , Depression, Postpartum/psychology , Family Conflict/psychology , Fathers/psychology , Mothers/psychology , Parent-Child Relations , Child , Child Behavior Disorders/nursing , Child Behavior Disorders/psychology , Child, Preschool , Family Therapy/methods , Female , Hostility , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Object Attachment , Social Isolation , Social SupportABSTRACT
Mental health problems are serious health concerns that affect women across diverse settings internationally. Knowledge of this population historically has been informed by research using a positivist approach. This article is a critical examination of contemporary paradigms for research related to women's mental health. We begin the article with an introduction to women's mental health, followed by an overview of the postpositivist, critical theory, and constructivist paradigms. We then present a critical examination of the benefits and limitations of these paradigms in relation to the study of women's mental health. We conclude with implications for research and practice.
