The relationship between paternal prenatal depressive symptoms with postnatal depression: The PATH model

The purpose of the study was to determine the relationship between men's prenatal and postnatal depressive symptom (PDS). In a descriptive study, 403 fathers meeting the inclusion criteria were enrolled using Poisson random sampling method from public health clinics in Zanjan, Iran. All participants were selected in the third trimester of pregnancy and were followed up eight weeks after childbirth. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to screen the participants for depressive symptoms. Data was analyzed using descriptive test, Path analysis at a confidence level of 95%. Results showed that the effect of the prenatal depressive symptoms on PDS had perfect good fitness indices. A high level of prenatal depressive symptoms predicted a high level of PDS. We found significant total mediating effects of state, trait, and total anxiety on PDS. The total moderating effect of income on PDS was not statistically significant. These results suggest that a high level of prenatal depressive symptoms is a risk factor for a high level of PDS. Therefore, health providers should pay more attention to the psychological health of fathers during the pre and postpartum period. The predictor factors should be considered in both intervention and clinical assessment of paternal PDS.