published_or_final_version / Nursing Studies / Master / Master of Nursing

Thesis (M. Nurs.)--University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 95-101).

Thesis (D.Psych.)--Murdoch University, 2002. / Thesis submitted to the Division of Social Sciences, Humanities and Education. Bibliography: leaves 244-304.

Thesis (M.Nurs.)--University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 140-147)

Abstract Postpartum depression (PPD) has been identified as a mental health condition that impacts women, men, and families. PPD has been shown to be prevalent in both women and men following the birth of a child; it has been associated with marital conflict, insecure attachment, and poor infant-child outcomes. While PPD has been studied extensively in women, paternal PPD often goes understudied, undetected, and untreated. The purpose of the present research was to explore the lived experiences of men who have experienced PPD through the lens of self-perception theory using a qualitative phenomenological study. Six men who have experienced PPD shared their lived experiences with PPD, including how they recognized they had a problem and what alerted them to get help. Data were analyzed using coding and the development of themes; the findings for this study showed that men's lived experiences with PPD included feelings of sadness, anger, fear, confusion, and being in denial. The men tended to not seek help for their experiences of PPD, and they were not previously informed about the disorder of paternal PPD. The present study provides a better understanding of PPD for fathers, information for healthcare providers who deal with expectant fathers, and significant others such as mothers of the child, and other family members and coworkers regarding how to respond to paternal PPD. Better understanding of PPD will provide fathers with more of the support they need to successfully make the journey through PPD.

The purpose of this quantitative, nonexperimental study was to analyze and explore the predictors for postpartum depression (PPD) and the strength of these predictors using a secondary data set from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study from Princeton, Pennsylvania State, and Columbia Universities. By incorporating the biopsychosocial model and feminist theory as the theoretical frameworks for this research, PPD was conceptualized as a serious, multidimensional psychological condition. Using logistic regression, many predictors were identified as etiological for PPD, including subjective attitudes about ideal and introjected characteristics ascribed to women as primary caretakers. These beliefs prevent the extension and acceptance of social support from others, as well as the internalization of negative self-images. Furthermore, it was conceptualized that hormonal influences and lifestyle are risk factors that significantly affect the expression of PPD. According to study results, financial stressors and emotional stressors from a dissatisfaction of parenting were the strongest predictors of PPD among mothers. This study provides an important contribution to the existing literature and enhanced social change initiatives by making public the effect of social supports, biology, and their intersection on emic PPD experiences and expectations using participant's life experiences. Furthermore, this study provides information to the behavioral health and obstetric community that will ensure greater access to postpartum care.

Thesis (M.S.)--Florida State University, 2004. / Advisor: Dr. Jeanne Flannery, Florida State University, School of Nursing, Dept. of Graduate Studies. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed June 17, 2004). Includes bibliographical references.

Breastfeeding is well known to be beneficial to both the mother and the baby. To the baby, it is associated with decreased short-term health problems such as diarrhea and respiratory infections, as well as decreased long-term health consequences such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, and raised blood cholesterol levels. To the mother, it is suggested to reduce type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, as well as ovarian cancer. Increasing exclusive breastfeeding rate, in which higher proportion of infants are given breast milk only, could also benefit the society as a whole. It is shown to reduce health care cost and premature deaths. Despite the gradual elevation of ever breastfeeding rate in Hong Kong up to 83% in 2013, the exclusive breastfeeding rate at 2 months postpartum remained relatively low at 21.7%. On the other hand, postpartum depression is a debilitating condition to both the mother and the baby. The prevalence was about 10-15%. And it could lead to deteriorated quality of life to the mother and increased maternal suicidal rate. It could also affect the long-term development of the baby. Previous studies showed controversial results on the association between breastfeeding and postpartum depression. Some suggested breastfeeding being protective against postpartum depression, while other studies did not show significant results. However, there was still no formal study in the local Chinese population about the issue. In view of that, the current study aimed at assessing the association between breastfeeding and postpartum depressive symptoms in the local Chinese population. This was a cross-sectional study which included 600 mothers with data retrieved from MCHCs’ database. Demographic data and breastfeeding status were included in binary logistic regression analysis with Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) result of either screened positive or negative as the outcome. The odds ratio of being screened positive in EPDS with more depressive symptoms for mothers with exclusive breastfeeding, compared with mothers not on breastfeeding (OR=0.42, 95% CI=0.19, 0.93) and mothers with non-exclusive breastfeeding (OR=0.40, 95% CI=0.19, 0.85) were both statistically significant after adjusted for the demographic data. Subgroup analysis on those intended for exclusive breastfeeding shortly after delivery also showed significant results. Those who succeeded in maintaining exclusive breastfeeding at 6-8 weeks postpartum were significantly less likely to be screened positive in EPDS (OR=0.07, 95% CI=0.01, 0.41) compared to those who could not maintain exclusive breastfeeding. This study proposed to assess whether there is an association between breastfeeding and decreased maternal postpartum depressive symptoms in local Chinese population. The results reiterated the advantages of breastfeeding and warranted more intense efforts in promoting and protecting breastfeeding. The large effect shown in the subgroup analysis highlighted the importance of maintaining exclusive breastfeeding. Since this study could only establish association, the results could not show causation and future studies should focus on establishing the temporality of causation between breastfeeding and decreased maternal postpartum depressive symptoms. Stricter adjustment for potential confounders should also be achieved with a prospective study better designed to control for temporality and time-varying confounders in the future. / published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health

The purpose of this study was to explore the experience of postpartum depression and to generate a substantive theory that would describe and explain this experience. Although the area of postpartum depression has been extensively researched in the past three decades the overwhelming majority of studies have employed quantitative research methods. These methods do not illuminate the experience from the women's point of view and they disregard the context within which the experience occurs. This study employed the Grounded Theory Method, a naturalistic-inductive method o f inquiry, that allowed for the participants' experience to be described and for a substantive theory to emerge, which is grounded in the data. Sixteen women (age range 27 to 42 years) were interviewed twice about their experience of depression following childbirth. The first interview focused on the women's experience of depression, while the second interview centred on the women's comments and suggestions regarding the researcher's thematic summaries of their interviews. A semi-structured interview guide was used during both interviews, which allowed for variations to emerge while a unified framework was maintained. The grounded theory analysis of the data led to the development of a substantive theory describing and explaining the social-psychological process of the experience of postpartum depression. The theoretical model that describes and explains the experience has six phases: (1) Becoming Lost, (2) Getting Trapped, (3) Deep in Depression, (4) Struggling to Break Out, (5) Breaking out, and (6) Staying Well. In addition, two recurrent themes were identified: (a) The Relationship with the Partner, and (b) A Redefined Self. The theoretical model illustrates the relationship among the different phases, as well as the properties that make the phases up. It also describes the types, circumstances and conditions under which the experience occurs. Most of the components of the theoretical model are supported by the literature on postpartum depression. However, the model adds to the literature in identifying specific parts of the process of postpartum depression such as the period leading to the onset of depression, the struggle to come out of the depression and women's agency in coming out of the depression and maintaining their wellness following recovery. As well, the study illuminated the changes in the relationship with the partner, and the process of redefining self through the experience of PPD. Finally, the implications for further research and practice that stem from the theoretical model that was developed are discussed.

The objective of this review was to appraise and summarise the best available literature on paternal postpartum depression (PPD) in new fathers. / This review has determined that new fathers can suffer depression, distress and anxiety in relation to pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period. The transition to fatherhood appeared to have a profound effect on many new fathers. Difficulties within the relationship, a history of depression and postnatal depression in the spouse were more likely to facilitate depression in fathers. Health care professionals play a pivotal role in recognising symptoms associated with PPD and can promote greater awareness of the condition through education. The Edinburgh Depression Scale as an assessment instrument to detect symptoms of postnatal depression (PND) in women has been found to be equally effective in detecting the symptoms of depression in fathers. Available, current literature on PPD is sparse and recommendations are made for continued research on PPD in new fathers, inclusion of awareness programmes on PPD in antenatal education and the development of an assessment tool similar to the EPDS that is gender specific for the routine assessment of new fathers. / Thesis (MMidwifery)--University of South Australia, 2005.