Depressive symptoms and psychosocial stress across the transition to parenthood : associations with parental psychopathology and child difficulty

Perren, Sonja; von Wyl, Agnes; Bürgin, Dieter; Simoni, Heidi; von Klitzing, Kai

doi:10.1080/01674820400028407

Publication type:	Article in scientific journal
Type of review:	Peer review (publication)
Title:	Depressive symptoms and psychosocial stress across the transition to parenthood : associations with parental psychopathology and child difficulty
Authors:	Perren, Sonja von Wyl, Agnes Bürgin, Dieter Simoni, Heidi von Klitzing, Kai
DOI:	10.1080/01674820400028407
Published in:	Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume(Issue):	26
Issue:	3
Page(s):	173
Pages to:	183
Issue Date:	2005
Publisher / Ed. Institution:	Taylor & Francis
ISSN:	0167-482X 1743-8942
Language:	English
Subjects:	Transition to parenthood; Postpartum depression; Parental psychopathology; Child temperament; Psychosocial
Subject (DDC):	155: Differential and developmental psychology 616.8: Neurology, diseases of nervous system
Abstract:	The transition to parenthood is often accompanied by depression and stress. Several studies have established risk factors for postpartum depression, e.g., antenatal depression. However, only a few studies have involved fathers. Moreover, most studies focus on the prevalence of depression instead of intraindividual changes over time. Our study investigated differential effects of parental psychopathology and child difficulty on the course of depressive symptoms and feelings of stress for first-time mothers and fathers. Seventy-four mothers and 58 fathers completed questionnaires on depressive symptoms (EPDS) and feelings of stress during pregnancy, and at 1, 3, 12, and 18 months postpartum. Parents rated children's difficulty-fussiness at 3, 12, and 18 months postpartum (ICQ). Parental psychopathology was established during pregnancy using self-reports (SCL-90-R) and anamnestic data. In mentally healthy mothers and fathers depressive symptoms decreased from pregnancy to 18 months postpartum, whereas parents with psychopathology in pregnancy showed a tendency to prolonged depressive phases. In parents with psychopathology, feelings of stress peaked at 12 months postpartum. Child difficulty was associated with elevated levels of psychosocial stress, but only for some participants. Parental psychopathological symptoms during pregnancy should thus be considered as a risk factor for elevated and prolonged depression and elevated psychosocial stress in mothers and fathers across the transition to parenthood.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/3674
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	Licence according to publishing contract
Departement:	Applied Psychology
Organisational Unit:	Psychological Institute (PI)
Appears in collections:	Publikationen Angewandte Psychologie

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Perren, S., von Wyl, A., Bürgin, D., Simoni, H., & von Klitzing, K. (2005). Depressive symptoms and psychosocial stress across the transition to parenthood : associations with parental psychopathology and child difficulty. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology, 26(3), 173–183. https://doi.org/10.1080/01674820400028407

Perren, S. et al. (2005) ‘Depressive symptoms and psychosocial stress across the transition to parenthood : associations with parental psychopathology and child difficulty’, Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology, 26(3), pp. 173–183. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/01674820400028407.

S. Perren, A. von Wyl, D. Bürgin, H. Simoni, and K. von Klitzing, “Depressive symptoms and psychosocial stress across the transition to parenthood : associations with parental psychopathology and child difficulty,” Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology, vol. 26, no. 3, pp. 173–183, 2005, doi: 10.1080/01674820400028407.

PERREN, Sonja, Agnes VON WYL, Dieter BÜRGIN, Heidi SIMONI und Kai VON KLITZING, 2005. Depressive symptoms and psychosocial stress across the transition to parenthood : associations with parental psychopathology and child difficulty. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2005. Bd. 26, Nr. 3, S. 173–183. DOI 10.1080/01674820400028407

Perren, Sonja, Agnes von Wyl, Dieter Bürgin, Heidi Simoni, and Kai von Klitzing. 2005. “Depressive Symptoms and Psychosocial Stress across the Transition to Parenthood : Associations with Parental Psychopathology and Child Difficulty.” Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology 26 (3): 173–83. https://doi.org/10.1080/01674820400028407.

Perren, Sonja, et al. “Depressive Symptoms and Psychosocial Stress across the Transition to Parenthood : Associations with Parental Psychopathology and Child Difficulty.” Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology, vol. 26, no. 3, 2005, pp. 173–83, https://doi.org/10.1080/01674820400028407.