Fathers’ Involvement: Mothers’ Perceived Benefits of Promoting Paternal Involvement Through a WhatsApp-Based Preventive Intervention for Postpartum Depression

Introduction: Despite the social and cultural changes of the recent decades, the tasks associated with childcare continue to be assumed mainly by women, increasing stress and, in some cases, negatively affecting maternal mental health. The “m-What were we thinking” (m-WWWT) intervention seeks to reduce the risk of developing postpartum depression and anxiety symptoms in women by increasing self-efficacy in caring for a newborn and perceived social support, with a special focus on the partner's role. The objective of this study was to describe the mothers’ perception of how this intervention facilitated the father's parenting involvement. Methods: Sixty-four text messages from 25 first-time mothers participating in the m-WWWT program were analyzed using the Grounded Theory open and axial coding criteria. Results: There are four subjective themes linked to fathers and parenthood. The first refers to the loss of the previous balance and increased stress with the arrival of the first child; the second, to the importance of watching the intervention videos together; the third, to the possibility of communicating regarding what is happening; and the fourth, to the shared conceptualization of parenting among the couples. Conclusion: These findings suggest that m-WWWT positively influences paternal involvement in the postpartum period, which is a relevant factor to promote maternal and infant well-being.