A randomized controlled trial investigating the impact of coping strategies training for fathers during pregnancy on postnatal depression among couples.
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| Title: | A randomized controlled trial investigating the impact of coping strategies training for fathers during pregnancy on postnatal depression among couples. |
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| Authors: | Mozaffari, Reyhaneh (AUTHOR), Bahrami, Nasim (AUTHOR), Bahramkhani, Mahmoud (AUTHOR), Griffiths, Mark D. (AUTHOR), Alimoradi, Zainab (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology. Dec2025, Vol. 46 Issue 1, p1-21. 21p. |
| Subjects: | Postpartum depression, Fathers, Randomized controlled trials, Therapeutics, Mental health, Couples, Coping Strategies Questionnaire, Pregnancy |
| Geographic Terms: | Iran |
| Abstract: | Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a significant public health concern affecting both mothers and fathers, with paternal well-being being a crucial yet often neglected factor in family mental health. Objective: The present study investigated the impact of coping strategies training for fathers during pregnancy on couples' PPD. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted comprising 86 couples experiencing first-time pregnancy (43 per group) in Qazvin, Iran, in 2024. The intervention group received five virtual sessions (45–60 min each) on coping strategies, while the control group received routine prenatal education through their routine prenatal care visits. Results: Post-intervention, couples' perceived stress scores decreased significantly at the first and second follow-up in the intervention vs. control group. The training significantly increased problem-focused strategy scores by 2.76 points among mothers (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 1.51) and 1.89 points among fathers (SMD = 0.99) compared to controls at one-month postpartum, while reducing emotion-focused coping among mothers by −2.23 points (SMD = −1.03) and among fathers by −1.71 points (SMD = −0.77). PPD scores were significantly lower in the intervention group (mean difference of −5.51 among women and −4.55 among men; both p < 0.001). Conclusion: Antenatal coping strategies training for fathers can be an effective intervention to mitigate PPD by reducing their stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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| Abstract: | Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a significant public health concern affecting both mothers and fathers, with paternal well-being being a crucial yet often neglected factor in family mental health. Objective: The present study investigated the impact of coping strategies training for fathers during pregnancy on couples' PPD. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted comprising 86 couples experiencing first-time pregnancy (43 per group) in Qazvin, Iran, in 2024. The intervention group received five virtual sessions (45–60 min each) on coping strategies, while the control group received routine prenatal education through their routine prenatal care visits. Results: Post-intervention, couples' perceived stress scores decreased significantly at the first and second follow-up in the intervention vs. control group. The training significantly increased problem-focused strategy scores by 2.76 points among mothers (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 1.51) and 1.89 points among fathers (SMD = 0.99) compared to controls at one-month postpartum, while reducing emotion-focused coping among mothers by −2.23 points (SMD = −1.03) and among fathers by −1.71 points (SMD = −0.77). PPD scores were significantly lower in the intervention group (mean difference of −5.51 among women and −4.55 among men; both p < 0.001). Conclusion: Antenatal coping strategies training for fathers can be an effective intervention to mitigate PPD by reducing their stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 0167482X |
| DOI: | 10.1080/0167482X.2025.2566074 |
