Abstract
Background: Paternal perinatal distress is receiving increasing attention. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is the predominant screening tool for paternal perinatal distress. Research using the large Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) cohort demonstrated that a three-factor EPDS structure is appropriate among mothers, with anhedonia, anxiety and depression factors emerging consistently across perinatal timepoints.
Method: We employed confirmatory factor (CFA; n = 6170 to 9848) analysis to determine if this structure was appropriate for ALSPAC fathers, and the extent of invariance between mother and father groups.
Results: At 18-weeks gestation, and 8-weeks, 8-months and 21-months postpartum, the three-factor model had consistently superior fit to other proposed models. Consistent with interpretation of a total distress score, factors were highly correlated. The model exhibited configural invariance in both the first (8-months) and second (21-months) post-partum years. Metric and scalar invariance were not supported, however, non-invariance was largely attributable to item 9 canvassing “crying”.
Limitations: While the study employs a large cohort, the data collection in 1991 to 1992 in the United Kingdom may not account for the diverse gender roles, family structures and societal changes seen since that time.
Conclusions: Interpretation of the EPDS as representing perinatal distress, reflecting anhedonia, anxiety and depression aspects, is appropriate for mothers and fathers. The experience of distress has nuanced gender-based differences. Implications for EPDS interpretation and cut-off scores among fathers are discussed.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 167-173 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Journal of Affective Disorders |
| Volume | 340 |
| Early online date | 7 Aug 2023 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Nov 2023 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:We are extremely grateful to all the families who took part in this study, the midwives for their help in recruiting them, and the whole ALSPAC team, which includes interviewers, computer and laboratory technicians, clerical workers, research scientists, volunteers, managers, receptionists and nurses. The UK Medical Research Council and Wellcome (Grant ref: 217065/Z/19/Z ) and the University of Bristol provide core support for ALSPAC. Access to the ALSPAC resource was financially supported by the Elaine Tolley Medal for Mental Health Research awarded to Karen Hazell-Raine through the Westmead Medical Research Foundation. This publication is the work of the authors and Wendell Cockshaw and Karen Hazell-Raine will serve as guarantors for the contents of this paper.
Funding Information:
Through a research proposal submitted to the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) Executive, data were obtained from the ALSPAC resource in 2013. A checklist for papers using the ALSPAC resource (and draft copy of the present manuscript) was submitted to the ALSPAC Executive 2 October 2022, prior to journal submission. Access to this resource was financially supported by the Elaine Tolley Medal for Mental Health Research established through the Westmead Medical Research Foundation. We have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Elsevier B.V.
