Maternal and paternal postpartum depression relationship: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background Pregnancy is a stressful phenomenon not only for mothers but also for fathers. Fathers may experience symptoms similar to depression influenced by their emotional relationships with their partners. A better understanding of the factors contributing to paternal depression is a crucial step toward the prevention and management of this condition. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the association between postpartum depression in mothers and fathers within the first year following childbirth. Methods The present study was a systematic review and meta-analysis conducted in March 2024 drawing from articles published between 2003-March2024 to identify all relevant studies in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. A comprehensive search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science databases and Google scholar search engine using keywords derived from MeSH terms. Inclusion criteria encompassed observational studies in the English language and examining the relationship between postpartum depression in mothers and fathers from birth up to one year postpartum, and the variable of postpartum depression was assessed in all studies using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. The quality of the studies was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, and the data were analyzed using CMA2 software for the meta-analysis. Results In the present study, 19 articles were accepted for final review based on the established inclusion and exclusion criteria. Among these studies, four articles screened postpartum depression at multiple time points, each considered as a separate study. The assessment of postpartum depression was conducted over a time range from 2.5 days to one year after delivery. The correlation between postpartum depression in fathers and mothers was found to be significant ( r = 0.29, P < 0.001), with a 95% confidence interval ranging from 0.23 to 0.34. The strongest correlation was observed in the 3 to 6 months grouping ( r = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.24–0.43) and the 6 to 12 months grouping ( r = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.17–0.49), while the weakest correlation was noted in the 2 weeks to 3 months period after delivery ( r = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.18–0.34). Discussion The results of the meta-analysis indicated a positive correlation observed between postpartum depression in both parents and demonstrated that the mental health of mothers and fathers is interdependent. It is crucial to recognize and address the psychological well-being of both parents during the postpartum period. The relationship between postpartum depression in mothers and fathers varies over time; it is essential for supportive and therapeutic programs to consider these temporal fluctuations in order to address the psychological needs of parents effectively.