Effects of Partners’ Attitudes towards Wife’s Aspirations on Depression after Childbirth

A lack of social support for pregnant women is associated with depression after childbirth. However, few studies have examined the impact of the partners’ understanding of and support for the women’s aspirations (personal goals in life) on the severity of depression after childbirth. To examine the relationship between a partner’s attitude to his wife’s aspirations and depression after childbirth, a longitudinal study was conducted of 290 primipara women from five university hospitals between October 1997 and March 2000. Three questionnaires were administered to participant women. During their third trimester, they were asked about their aspirations (Aspiration Index) and their perception of their partners’ understanding of and support for their aspirations. At one month and three months after childbirth, they were asked about the severity of their depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale). Correlation analyses and structural equation modelling showed that the partners’ poor understanding and support predicted the severity of depression after childbirth. Perinatal health professionals should be encouraged to assess the pregnant women’s aspirations and their partners’ understanding and support regarding the women’s goals in life.