Postpartum affect and depressive symptoms in mothers and fathers

In a study of the postpartum affective experiences of couples, mothers and fathers completed questionnaires on coping, marital satisfaction stress, po sitive and negative affect and depression one month pre- and then one month postpartum, More than one-fourth of both mothers and fathers reported elev ated depressive symptoms, which correlated significantly between parents. P repartum coping, stress, and affect significantly predicted postpartum affe ct. Research and clinical applications of the findings are discussed.