Post partum depression and the psychosocial predictors in first-time fathers from northwestern China

•We conducted a longitudinal study involving 180 post partum couples from northwestern China.•We explored the occurrence of paternal PPD of first-time fathers at three postpartum time periods.•The discovery of the occurrence of paternal PPD among fathers from northwestern China is a significant public health concern.•We identified psychological predictors of paternal PPD at three separate postpartum time periods.

Backgroundthere is growing evidence that fathers also experience post partum depression (PPD). However, paternal PPD has been less studied than maternal PPD. Very few studies have investigated PPD in first-time fathers from northwestern China.Objectivethe purpose of this study was to investigate the occurrence and predictors of depressive symptoms in first-time fathers from northwestern China.Methodsa longitudinal study was conducted involving 180 couples who were assessed at three time periods: 3 days, 2 weeks and 6 weeks after childbirth. Self-reported questionnaires including Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Parenting Sense of Competence Scale (PSOC), and Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale (KMSS) were administered to all participants during each time period.Findingsafter childbirth 35 (21.1%) of the fathers at 3 days, 32 (20.4%) at 2 weeks and 20 (13.6%) at 6 weeks, indicated that they suffered from PPD. Paternal parental sense of competence, paternal marital satisfaction, and maternal depressive symptoms were among the main predictors for paternal PPD.Conclusionthe study results suggest that paternal PPD is a significant public health concern. Health professionals should focus attention on the psychological health among new fathers during the postpartum period; and, the psychosocial predictors should be considered and incorporated into clinical assessment and intervention of paternal PPD.