Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 26, 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
Differences in parental childcare contributions and maternal postpartum psychosocial well-being: a cross-sectional
Yue Zhang1,2, Marlee Bower3, Weijie Ding4
1School of Public Health, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Introduction:
Little is known about how differences in parental contributions to childcare impact maternal postpartum psychosocial well-being, particularly in the context of global fertility decline. This study aims to explore associations of parental childcare contributions with maternal postpartum psychosocial disorders among Chinese women.
Methods:
Data from the Grandmothers, Mothers and Their Children's Health study in Huai'an, China were used. Participants were 1991 women who experienced childbirth between 2020 and 2021; follow-up survey was conducted in 2023. Parental childcare contributions were examined by care index. Maternal psychosocial disorders included mental health disorders and poor social health. Logistic regression models were conducted to assess the associations.
Results:
93% mothers reported high-contribution childcare; in contrast, only 41% fathers had high-contributions. After mutual adjustment of parental childcare contributions, paternal low-contribution was associated with higher odds of maternal mental health disorders (OR=1.79, 95% CI 1.24 to 2.57) and poor social health (1.76, 1.37 to 2.24). However, these associations were not observed for maternal childcare contribution. For joint patterns of parental childcare contributions, those involving paternal low-contribution childcare were associated with higher odds of maternal psychosocial disorders, regardless of maternal contribution. The associations were consistent across different subpopulations with varied sociodemographic characteristics.
Conclusions:
Parents' contributions in childcare were imbalanced in China. Paternal low-contribution childcare was independently associated with higher odds of maternal postpartum psychosocial disorders, highlighting the potential relevance of paternal childcare contribution to maternal postpartum psychosocial well-being.
Related Concept Videos
Parenting Styles
Authoritarian Parenting
This style is strict and controlling, with little room for open dialogue. Authoritarian parents demand obedience and often enforce rules with minimal warmth. Children raised this way may lack social skills and initiative, usually comparing themselves to others unfavorably.
Authoritative Parenting
This...
Parental Care
Socioemotional Development during Infancy
Primary Temperament Types
Stella Chess...
Relationship with Parents: Attachment
Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development
Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
