Comparison of stress, perceived social support and vulnerable personality in depressed and non-depressed fathers with newborns

Postpartum depression in fathers, if it occurs, can make a difference in their feelings and perceptions. This study aimed to compare stress, perceived social support and vulnerable personality in fathers with postpartum depression and fathers without postpartum depression.

This was a causal-comparative study. The sample consisted of 300 fathers in Isfahan who had a baby in the last six months and were selected as available. Then they answered the research tools including Harry Stress Questionnaire (2005), Perceived Social Support Questionnaire (MSPSS), Zimet et al. (1988) and Boyce et al. (2004) Vulnerable Personality Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using multivariate and univariate analysis of variance.

The results showed that the mean scores of at least one of the variables of stress, perceived social support and vulnerable personality were significantly different between the two groups of fathers with postpartum depression and no depression (P <0.001). There is also a significant difference between the scores of vulnerable personality in the two groups of fathers with postpartum depression and no depression (p <0.001). But the difference between the two groups in the variables of stress and perceived social support was not significant.

It seems that in fathers with vulnerable personalities, stressors are controlled and more social support is needed.