Causes of women's postpartum depression symptoms: Men's and women's perceptions.
OBJECTIVE
To describe men's and women's perceptions of the causes of women's PPD symptoms and to explore similarities and differences between men's and women's perceptions.


METHODS
Qualitative-descriptive study involving in-depth semi-structured individual interviews and content analysis.


METHODS
In-home interviews of participants recruited in two tertiary care hospitals, both in urban centres of the province of Quebec, Canada.


METHODS
Both members of 30 heterosexual couples from which women scored at least 12 on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.


RESULTS
Participants described nine causes underlying women's depressive symptoms: societal expectations and pressure on women, physical health problems, transition to parenthood, social connectedness, personality and past psychological history, child health and temperament challenges, unmet care needs, unmet expectations for childbirth, and other life stressors. With one exception, all causes were endorsed by both men and women. Only men mentioned societal pressure on women.


CONCLUSIONS
Men and women mainly perceived similar causes, which could be explained by socio-cultural factors and extended paternal leaves. Understanding men's and women's perceptions could help tailoring health- care professionals' interventions to couples' needs.
Ingram School of Nursing, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. Electronic address: catherine.habel@mail.mcgill.ca.
Catherine
C
Habel
Ingram School of Nursing, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Center for Nursing Research & Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada. Electronic address: nancy.feeley@mcgill.ca.
Nancy
N
Feeley
Perinatal Mental Health Service, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada. Electronic address: bhayton@jgh.mcgill.ca.
Barbara
B
Hayton
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada. Electronic address: linda.bell@usherbrooke.ca.
Linda
L
Bell
Lady Davis Institute & Department of Psychiatry, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. Electronic address: phyllis.zelkowitz@mcgill.ca.
Phyllis
P
Zelkowitz
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008880:Midwifery; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011792:Quebec; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology
Causes; Gender; Men; Perceptions; Postpartum depression; Women