Risk factors of paternal postpartum depression among Latino fathers: Treatment implications

Abstract

Several studies of paternal postpartum depression (PPD) typically use homogenous samples. As a growing population and susceptibility to experiencing postpartum depression, little is known about the risk factors associated with paternal postpartum depression among Latino fathers. The nonrandomized convenience sampling strategy yielded a heterogeneous sample of 101 Latino fathers. Predictors of paternal PPD were coping skills, age, having a partner in PPD treatment, and egalitarian gender attitudes were estimated using a single logistic regression model. A second logistic regression model was performed using STATA’s stepwise estimation to obtain a final model with only significant predictors for paternal PPD symptoms. Results from the logistic regression models indicate that Latino fathers who reported higher maladaptive coping skills had increased odds of being above the clinical cutoff for paternal PPD ( OR: 1.99, 95%CI: 1.02–3.90, p < .05). The results of the stepwise logistic regression indicated that increased maladaptive coping skills ( OR: 2.14, 95%CI: .11–4.13) as well as having a partner in PPD treatment ( OR: 2.66, 95%CI: .84–8.44) increased the odds of scoring above the clinical cutoff for paternal PPD. In addition, being older decreased the odds of scoring above the clinical cutoff for paternal PPD ( OR: .87, 95%CI: .77–.99). Findings indicate that when a Latino father is younger, endorses maladaptive coping skills and has a partner in PPD treatment, it is associated with increased odds of paternal PPD. In addition, culturally responsive treatment implications for Latino men are discussed.