Discrepancies between self- and partner-reported maternal depressive symptoms during pregnancy: roles of maternal attachment and partner depressive symptoms

Maternal depressive symptoms during pregnancy are common but often go undetected. Partner reports on maternal depressive symptoms offer meaningful insights beyond self-report, yet little is known about the psychological and relational factors that shape partner reports. In 85 mother-father dyads assessed during pregnancy, we examined associations between self-reported and father-reported maternal depressive symptoms and predictors of informant discrepancies. While father-reported maternal depressive symptoms were moderately correlated with maternal self-reports, 39% of dyads disagreed on whether mother met clinical thresholds. Fathers' self-reported depressive symptoms predicted higher father-reported maternal depressive symptoms. Maternal-reported attachment avoidance was associated with fathers underreporting maternal depressive symptoms relative to maternal self-reports, while maternal-reported attachment anxiety was associated with fathers overreporting maternal depressive symptoms relative to maternal self-reports. Findings underscore the relational context of perinatal mental health. Including fathers as both informants and targets of care could improve identification and treatment of perinatal depression.