Men can also experience postpartum depression
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Craig Garfield, an American pediatrician in his study, found that postpartum depression can be not only in women but also in men. Young fathers are also predisposed to this type of disorder. In this case, as studies have shown, with the age of the child the state of depression may worsen.
The research was conducted at Northwestern University and the results of the work were published in one of the journals, entitled "Pediatrics". According to studies, in men, with the age of the child approaching the most important stage, the manifestation of a depressive state may increase. Previous studies in this field have shown that young men who are depressed after the birth of a child often corporally punish their child and try to avoid close contact with him. Such children are more prone to different kinds of disorders, for example, developmental delay, behavioral disorders, poor learning ability, etc.
In the research project, a group of scientists used data from more than 10,000 young people, 33% of whom became fathers between the ages of 24 and 32. Most of the men lived together with their children. At the same time, young people who lived separately from their children did not suffer from severe manifestations of depression after the birth of the baby. The manifestation of symptoms of depressive state in such men was higher during the woman's pregnancy and with the birth of the child decreased.
Depression in men who became fathers at about 25 years of age (plus / minus a couple of years) and lived together with their children, suffered less from depression during the wife's pregnancy and with the birth of the child, the symptoms of depression worsened. Such men in the first five years of the child's life experienced an increase in depressive states by an average of 68%.
A similar research project is the first one that has established an increased risk of depression in young people who are preparing to become fathers. The results of the study will help to better understand the condition of young men and to conduct effective prevention and treatment of depression.
On children, depressive disorder of the parents affects extremely negatively, especially in the first years of life, when the maximum interrelation with parents is observed. As the scientists themselves point out, parents should do their utmost to help each other more easily and quickly through this difficult period.
In another research project, scientists found that young people between 18 and 33 years old are more exposed to stress. According to experts, 50% of young people at this age suffer from stresses that lead to sleep disturbances. At the same time, similar disorders occur in 33% of people from 45 to 60 years, and 29% over 67 years. In other age categories, the stress level was significantly less.
Also, the specialists managed to determine that at a young age, most often stressful situations are associated with a lack of money, instability at work or inability to find a suitable job, etc. The same problems for older people do not cause such strong feelings, which is associated, according to scientists , with sufficient life experience.
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