TY - JOUR
T1 - Exposure to stress during childbirth, dyadic adjustment, partner's resilience, and psychological distress among first-time fathers
AU - Zerach, Gadi
AU - Magal, Ortal
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 American Psychological Association.
PY - 2017/4/1
Y1 - 2017/4/1
N2 - This study examined posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (PTSS) and anxiety symptoms among men attending the birth of their first offspring. Furthermore, the authors examined the moderating role of dyadic adjustment and participants' partner's resilience in the association between exposure to stress during birth and postpartum PTSS and anxiety symptoms. Most studies among men attending childbirth only examined depression symptoms. However, childbirth can be a potentially traumatic event that might result in postnatal PTSS and anxiety symptoms. This is a short-term longitudinal designed study. Participants were Israeli men (N = 171) who were assessed with self-report questionnaires during the third trimester of pregnancy and a month following birth. The rates of postnatal self-reported PTSS (1.2-2.3%) and anxiety symptoms (6%) were relatively low. dyadic adjustment was negatively related to both PTSS and anxiety symptoms, wheras partner's resilience was negatively related only to anxiety symptoms. Subjective exposure to stress during birth (T2) contributed to PTSS and anxiety in T2, above and beyond other negative life events and PTSS and anxiety in T1. In addition, dyadic adjustment, but not partner's resilience, moderated the relations between subjective exposure to stress during birth and PTSS. Although men attending childbirth reported relatively low PTSS, some are troubled by anxietyrelated symptoms. Importantly, low dyadic adjustment and, specifically, dyadic satisfaction during pregnancy, should be considered as a risk factor for PTSS and anxiety symptoms in men who perceived childbirth as stressful.
AB - This study examined posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (PTSS) and anxiety symptoms among men attending the birth of their first offspring. Furthermore, the authors examined the moderating role of dyadic adjustment and participants' partner's resilience in the association between exposure to stress during birth and postpartum PTSS and anxiety symptoms. Most studies among men attending childbirth only examined depression symptoms. However, childbirth can be a potentially traumatic event that might result in postnatal PTSS and anxiety symptoms. This is a short-term longitudinal designed study. Participants were Israeli men (N = 171) who were assessed with self-report questionnaires during the third trimester of pregnancy and a month following birth. The rates of postnatal self-reported PTSS (1.2-2.3%) and anxiety symptoms (6%) were relatively low. dyadic adjustment was negatively related to both PTSS and anxiety symptoms, wheras partner's resilience was negatively related only to anxiety symptoms. Subjective exposure to stress during birth (T2) contributed to PTSS and anxiety in T2, above and beyond other negative life events and PTSS and anxiety in T1. In addition, dyadic adjustment, but not partner's resilience, moderated the relations between subjective exposure to stress during birth and PTSS. Although men attending childbirth reported relatively low PTSS, some are troubled by anxietyrelated symptoms. Importantly, low dyadic adjustment and, specifically, dyadic satisfaction during pregnancy, should be considered as a risk factor for PTSS and anxiety symptoms in men who perceived childbirth as stressful.
KW - Anxiety
KW - Childbirth
KW - Dyadic adjustment
KW - Posttraumatic stress disorder
KW - Resilience
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84967102084&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1037/men0000048
DO - 10.1037/men0000048
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AN - SCOPUS:84967102084
SN - 1524-9220
VL - 18
SP - 123
EP - 133
JO - Psychology of Men and Masculinity
JF - Psychology of Men and Masculinity
IS - 2
ER -