"What am I thinking? Is this normal?" A cross-sectional study investigating the nature of negative thoughts, parental self-efficacy and psychological distress in new fathers.
Journal
Midwifery
ISSN: 1532-3099
Titre abrégé: Midwifery
Pays: Scotland
ID NLM: 8510930
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Dec 2019
Dec 2019
Historique:
received:
24
02
2019
revised:
06
08
2019
accepted:
11
08
2019
pubmed:
17
9
2019
medline:
21
4
2020
entrez:
17
9
2019
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
The current study aimed to investigate an important aspect of mental health, negative thoughts, in new fathers during the postnatal year. The relationships between negative thoughts, parental self-efficacy and symptoms of depression were explored. Positive and engaged father-infant relations provide a host of benefits for fathers, mothers, infants and the family system as a whole. However, there is little knowledge about the psychological factors influencing paternal engagement such as mental health and wellbeing. The study surveyed Australian fathers (n = 300) recruited through social media. Well-established measures of depressive symptoms and parental self-efficacy were used, along with a researcher modified version of Hall and Wittkowski (2006) Postnatal Negative Thoughts Questionnaire (PNTQ) adapted for use in a paternal population. Findings suggest negative thoughts are typical during the transition to fatherhood. To our knowledge, this is the first study that quantitatively explores and characterises paternal postnatal negative thoughts. The sample was relatively homogenous with only a small sample of depressed participants. Data were from self-report instruments. While paternal postnatal negative thoughts are a normal and important functional part of a successful transition to fatherhood, a higher frequency of negative thoughts are linked to increased symptoms of depression and lower levels of perceived parental competence.
Sections du résumé
OBJECTIVE
OBJECTIVE
The current study aimed to investigate an important aspect of mental health, negative thoughts, in new fathers during the postnatal year. The relationships between negative thoughts, parental self-efficacy and symptoms of depression were explored.
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Positive and engaged father-infant relations provide a host of benefits for fathers, mothers, infants and the family system as a whole. However, there is little knowledge about the psychological factors influencing paternal engagement such as mental health and wellbeing.
METHODS
METHODS
The study surveyed Australian fathers (n = 300) recruited through social media. Well-established measures of depressive symptoms and parental self-efficacy were used, along with a researcher modified version of Hall and Wittkowski (2006) Postnatal Negative Thoughts Questionnaire (PNTQ) adapted for use in a paternal population.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Findings suggest negative thoughts are typical during the transition to fatherhood. To our knowledge, this is the first study that quantitatively explores and characterises paternal postnatal negative thoughts.
LIMITATIONS
CONCLUSIONS
The sample was relatively homogenous with only a small sample of depressed participants. Data were from self-report instruments.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
While paternal postnatal negative thoughts are a normal and important functional part of a successful transition to fatherhood, a higher frequency of negative thoughts are linked to increased symptoms of depression and lower levels of perceived parental competence.
Identifiants
pubmed: 31525605
pii: S0266-6138(19)30213-X
doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2019.08.009
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
102527Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Ltd.