Paternal and maternal transition to parenthood: the risk of postpartum depression and parenting stress

Transition to parenthood represents animportant life event increasing vulnerability topsychological disorders. Postpartum depressionand parenting distress are the most commonpsychological disturbances and a growingscientific evidence suggests that both mothersand fathers are involved in this developmentalcrisis. This paper aims to explore maternal andpaternal experience of transition to parenthoodin terms of parenting distress and risk ofpostpartum depression. Seventy-five couples offirst-time parents were invited to compile theEdinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and theParenting Stress Index-Short Form in the firstmonth of children life. Study sample reportedvery high levels of parenting distress and a riskof postpartum depression in 20.8% of mothersand 5.7% of fathers. No significant correlationbetween parenting distress and the risk ofpostpartum depression emerged, both in mothersthan in fathers group while maternal distresslevels are related to paternal one. Thefirst month after partum represents a criticalphase of parents life and it could be considereda developmental crisis characterized by anxiety,stress and mood alterations that couldhave important repercussions on the child psycho-physical development.