Continuity of paternal social support and depressive symptoms among new mothers.

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Abstract
The present study examined trajectories of paternal support and maternal depressive symptoms over the first two years after the birth of a child. First-time mothers (N = 582) were assessed 6 times during the first 24 months of their child's life. At each assessment they reported on a number of ways in which their child's father provided support, and at three of the assessments, their own depressive symptomatology was assessed. Latent growth curve models revealed that while higher support was related to lower depressive symptomatology, both paternal support and maternal depression tended to decrease over time. The relationships between paternal support and maternal depression are complex and suggest the importance of considering the multiple ways that parents influence one another over time.
Funding Information
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R01 HD39456; T32 HD07489; F32 HD054037)

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