title: Relationship between Fathers' Depression and Perceived Social Support and Stress in Postpartum Period.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The evidence suggests that some men experience depression after the childbirth of their wife, and this real and unknown phenomenon will adversely affect them as well as their families. Regarding the lack of understanding about the paternal depression and its complex and multifaceted etiology, the present study was done to assess the paternal postpartum depression and its relationship with perceived stress and social support components.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this descriptive study, 205 new fathers were assessed from 6th to 12th week postpartum in seven health centers, affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University. Collected data with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, and the Perceived Social Support Scale were analyzed by descriptive statistics, correlation tests and linear regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  11.7% of the fathers scored 12 or above in the Edinburgh scale, which indicated depression symptom. The postnatal depression scores had a significant positive correlation with the perceived stress scores and a significant negative correlation with the perceived social support components scores. Perceived stress was key predictor of paternal postpartum depression. Perceived social support components cannot significantly predict the paternal postpartum depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Assessment of paternal postpartum depression and its risk factors is recommended. Healthcare providers should pay more attention to the increasing public awareness, stress management and communication skills training, and support of fathers during the postnatal period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Midwifery, faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamalifard
authors.affiliation: Department of Midwifery, faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Shirin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hasanpoor
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Jalil
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Babapour Kheiroddin
authors.affiliation: Department of Midwifery, faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Students Research Committee, faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Samira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Panahi
authors.affiliation: Department of Midwifery, faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Students Research Committee, faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Somayeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bayati Payan
keywords: Depression; Fathers; Postpartum period; Social support; Stress disorders