Postnatal depression in fathers : does prenatal preparation and experience in care-giving assist the transition to fatherhood?

Thirty-two first time fathers participated in this study which was primarily concerned with how men prepare for fatherhood and whether previous interactions with children equips men with necessary experience to alleviate the development of post natal depression. Fathers completed questionnaires and correlation analyses were used to test the relationship between paternal post natal depression and prepatory activities such as seeking information about parenthood, and previous interaction with children. The results of the current study revealed that there was a relationship between fathers seeking information from books, internet, and videos relating to parenthood, and a reduction in reported anxiety and insomnia. This kind of preparation for parenthood may be crucial in the decision making process when planning the birth of a child, which was also linked to reduced feelings of depression in new fathers. The study also identified that fathers who had some previous interaction with children were less likely to report psychological distress. These results could indicate that men should be supported to interact with children during their lifetime. Furthermore, fathers who reported social support felt that they play an important role in caring for their child and this reflects social support may be an important factor in facilitating the transition to role as caregiver. This attitude was also related to fewer experiences of psychological distress.