STRESS AND SUPPORT AS RELATED TO POSTPARTUM PATERNAL MENTAL-HEALTH AND PERCEPTIONS OF THE INFANT

This study examined the relationship of stress and social support to p sychological adjustment, attitudes towards the parental role, and perc eptions of infant behavior in two groups of fathers: an index group of 50 men whose wives had a diagnosed postpartum depression, and a contr ol group of 50 men whose wives had no such disorder. Fathers with more stress and less support had higher levels of psychological symptomato logy. Index fathers reported more stress, particularly from work and e conomic pressures. Index fathers were also less likely than controls t o report support from in-laws, other relatives, and friends. Stress, b ut not support, was associated with more negative perceptions of the m arriage, the parental role, and infant behavior. Work-related stress w as most likely to have an impact on paternal attitudes. These findings suggest the need to adopt a family focus when studying postpartum dep ression.