The phenomenon of postpartum depression has gotten a PR boost in recent years, thanks in part to the valiant and high-profile efforts of Brooke Shields and that blond lady who used to bunk with Hugh Hefner. But no thanks to Tom Cruise.
Anyway, so apparently former child stars and Playboy bunnies are susceptible, but did you know that men can struggle with the mental malady as well? Take it away, CNN’s Elizabeth Landau.
CNN:
In fact, postpartum depression in new fathers is a real phenomenon, and is more common than previously thought, according to a study published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association. About 10 percent of men have prenatal and postpartum depression, the study found; previous research had estimated 5 percent, said lead author James Paulson of the department of pediatrics at Eastern Virginia Medical School.
“It’s not screened for and caught enough in women, and I would say in practice it’s [depression in new fathers] virtually unknown,” Paulson said. “Most clinicians and most moms and dads aren’t aware that there’s an increased risk of depression for fathers.”
Depression in fathers has potential negative implications for the family, and for the child’s development and behavioral and emotional health, he said.
Paulson’s study also found that fathers’ depression tended to have an association with mothers’ depression—so when moms were more depressed, so were dads. But more research is needed to determine how the two are related, as one parent’s moods have not been proven to cause the other’s.
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Paulson’s study also found that fathers’ depression tended to have an association with mothers’ depression—so when moms were more depressed, so were dads.
********************************
This is no revelation. Most guys know this.
And the reason for depression can be many, but obvious and comes down to 2 or 3:
1) He doesn’t really want to be a father and has to come to terms with it.
2) Money. How’s he gonna pay for it?
3) Feels like a REAL ball and chain to him “I got this kid. WTF am I supposed to do with him/her?”
How the IRS’ Nonprofit Division Got So Dysfunctional
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By Inherit The Wind, May 19, 2010 at 8:48 am Link to this comment
PatrickHenry, May 18 at 8:04 pm #
Inherit The Wind,
On this, I must agree with you.
Gender politics is eternal and omnificent.
***************************************
Yup. We can find things we agree on.
Report thisBy PatrickHenry, May 18, 2010 at 4:04 pm Link to this comment
Inherit The Wind,
On this, I must agree with you.
Gender politics is eternal and omnificent.
Report thisBy Inherit The Wind, May 18, 2010 at 12:08 pm Link to this comment
Paulson’s study also found that fathers’ depression tended to have an association with mothers’ depression—so when moms were more depressed, so were dads.
********************************
This is no revelation. Most guys know this.
And the reason for depression can be many, but obvious and comes down to 2 or 3:
1) He doesn’t really want to be a father and has to come to terms with it.
2) Money. How’s he gonna pay for it?
3) Feels like a REAL ball and chain to him “I got this kid. WTF am I supposed to do with him/her?”
Important? Yes. Complicated? No.
Report thisBy maxinpains, May 18, 2010 at 10:38 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Those sales mans of “death pills” make up just too many symptoms over every human behaviors….
Report thisDon’t get caught on that side ...
It’s pretty dangerous.