Family expectations reduce the risk of postpartum depression among mothers but not fathers.
Yunying Le, Maggie O T Allen, Scott M Stanley et al.
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In 30 seconds
This randomized controlled trial examined the impact of a community-based relationship education program, Family Expectations, on postpartum depression among low-income couples. Among 1,761 participants, mothers who received the intervention had significantly lower odds of meeting the postpartum depression screening cutoff (OR = 0.70) compared to control mothers, while no significant effects were observed for fathers.
Key findings
- Mothers in the intervention group had lower odds of postpartum depression (OR = 0.70) compared to control mothers.
- 27.9% of fathers met the screening cutoff for postpartum depression, with no significant differences between groups.
- The intervention did not differ in effectiveness based on prenatal depressive symptoms for either parent.
Why it matters
Postpartum depression is a prevalent condition that can affect family dynamics and child development. Understanding effective preventive strategies, such as relationship education, is crucial for improving maternal mental health and overall family well-being.