Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale Factor Structure and Invariance in Fathers Across the First Two Postnatal Years:...

Area of Science:

• Psychological assessment
• Perinatal mental health
• Fatherhood studies

Background:

• The dimensional structure of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) in fathers is debated.
• Its comparability across different infant age bands is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the EPDS factor structure among Swedish fathers.
• To assess the measurement invariance of the EPDS across infant age bands (0-24 months).

Main Methods:

• Confirmatory factor analyses were used to compare one-, two-, and three-factor models.
• Measurement invariance was tested across four infant age bands (0-6, 7-12, 13-18, 19-24 months).
• 2,318 EPDS assessments from 1,615 fathers were analyzed.

Main Results:

• A three-factor model (anhedonia, anxiety, depressive affect) showed the best fit across all age bands.
• Strict measurement invariance was supported, allowing for valid mean-level comparisons over time.
• Screening-positive proportions (EPDS ≥10) ranged from 16.75% to 26.39% across age bands.

Conclusions:

• The EPDS demonstrates a replicable three-factor structure and strict invariance in Swedish fathers during the first two postnatal years.
• These findings support the valid use of the EPDS for screening paternal depression over time.
• The study highlights the importance of father-inclusive screening, as non-trivial prevalence rates persist beyond 12 months postpartum.