Gender roles, social support, and postpartum depressive symptomatology: the benefits of caring

Article Abstract:

It is acknowledged that depression after the birth of a child (postpartum depression) affects women more than men, and little is known concerning the extent to which such symptoms also occur in men. Although women in Western societies usually have greater access to emotional support (from spouses, mothers, friends), the isolation of the traditional nuclear family may exacerbate their greater levels of postpartum stress. It is possible that women who work experience more support than those who remain at home after childbirth. These issues were investigated by means of questionnaires mailed six weeks before the delivery date to expectant mothers and fathers enrolled in childbirth classes (Time 1, completed by 192 individuals) and again eight weeks after delivery (Time 2, completed by 177 individuals). At Time 1, most participants were employed; by Time 2, men remained employed, while 42 percent of the women were on maternity leave and 29 percent considered themselves homemakers. The questionnaires elicited information from both men and women concerning demographic data, social support networks, and depressive symptoms. Results showed that women had more depressive symptoms than men at Time 1; no gender differences in depression were found at Time 2. Women had more social support, from mothers and others (usually, friends) than men at both times, and both men and women perceived the support they received from their spouses as decreasing from Time 1 to Time 2. Well-being for women after childbirth was associated with support from parents, husbands, and friends; for men, it was associated with support from wives. Support from the workplace did not affect the levels of distress for men or women, nor were differences in depression found for homemakers versus employed women. The results show that new mothers are no more depressed than new fathers two months after childbirth, and the women are able to derive significant support from their social relationships. While some studies have suggested that women are drained emotionally by the 'cost of caring' for members of their social networks, the findings do not support this viewpoint. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Social aspects, Evaluation, Demographic aspects, Postpartum depression, Social networks

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A review of the depressive personality

Article Abstract:

Although the concept of depressive personality has a long history in psychiatric analysis, the disorder has never been included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). The depressive personality has long been recognized by European psychiatry, dating back at least to Kraepelin, and has been described by German phenomenologists and clinicians. The disorder has also been included in standard international nosologic systems, and closely links the two concepts of personality and depression, which tend to be viewed as separate entities by the DSM. The authors discuss six general aspects of the relationship between these two concepts. An evolution of the diagnosis of disorders that are related to the depressive personality as defined in the DSM over the years - including depressive neurosis, mood disorders, and neurotic depression - is discussed. It is not clear how the concept of depressive personality should properly be integrated within axis I depressive disorders and axis II personality disorders in the DSM. Differentiation of the depressive personality from other related conditions should include early onset, stability and resistance of symptoms over time (more trait-like than state-like in nature), and the primary psychopathology should be cognitive, rather than somatic or affective. Compared with major depressive disorder, the depressive personality type is less severe, but the conditions may coexist. Clarification is also needed concerning the overlap between the depressive personality and the self-defeating personality, the obsessive-compulsive personality, and other dependent personality disorders. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Diagnosis, Depression, Mental

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