The correlation between spousal support and postpartum depression in fathers.

Objective: This study was conducted using a descriptive design to examine the correlation between spousal support and postpartum depression (PPD) in fathers.

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.

Results: 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.

Conclusions: 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.