Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 24, 2026

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants
Published on: June 13, 2021
[Effect of paternity leave on maternal postpartum depression]
N Séjourné1, M Beaumé, V Vaslot
1Centre d'étude et de recherches en psychopathologie, université de Toulouse-le-Mirail, 5, allée Antonio-Machado, 31058 Toulouse cedex 9, France. natalene.sejourne@laposte.net
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to explore the role of the paternity leave in the appearance of the maternal postpartum depression.
Patients And Methods:
Fifty-one couples took part in the whole study. Between the second and the fifth day after the childbirth, the mother completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), which measures the symptoms of depression and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) which measures the social support the mother has become. The father completed the EPDS. Two months and then the second time four months after the childbirth, the mother received the EPDS, the MSPSS, and questionnaires measuring the temperament of the baby, the maternal skills, the feeling of being a mother and the quality of life postpartum. In order to evaluate the paternal involvement, the father completed the EPDS and questions about paternal skills and involvement.
Results:
The paternity leave seemed not to have any consequences on the results at the EPDS or other questionnaires. However, lack of paternal involvement was a significant predictor of the intensity of the depressive symptoms of the mothers.
Discussion And Conclusion:
It is not the presence of the father wich seems important to take into account for detection and the traitement of postpatum depression but his participation in the care of the baby.
Related Concept Videos
Parental Care
Long-term Depression
Long-term Depression
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over time, all...
Pathophysiology of Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility, suggesting a...
Depressive Disorders: Etiology
Biological Factors in Depression
Biological predispositions significantly influence the risk of developing depressive disorders. Genetic studies highlight the role of variations in the serotonin transporter...
Development of the Oral Microbiota

