Abstract
Depression during pregnancy is common, and previous research suggests childhood adversity may increase the risk for prenatal depression. Support during pregnancy can buffer these risks, and paternal support is associated with improved maternal well-being during pregnancy. There is evidence to suggest that increased support from fathers may be particularly helpful in combatting depressive symptoms for mothers with adverse childhood experiences. The study aims to explore the role of biological father support as a protective factor against the risks associated with childhood adversity for maternal prenatal depression. Sample included 133 pregnant women recruited from two university-affiliated OB-GYN clinics serving diverse and low-income patients. Participants completed measures on childhood adversity, prenatal depressive symptoms, and father support. Results showed a significant moderating effect of father support on the relation between maternal ACEs and prenatal depressive symptoms, suggesting that higher levels of father support are protective against prenatal depressive symptoms, specifically in mothers with low-to-moderate ACEs. These results highlight the positive impact of paternal support for maternal well-being during pregnancy. Although mothers with low-to-moderate ACEs experience a buffering effect of father support, mothers with high levels of childhood adversity remain at elevated risk for prenatal depressive symptoms even with high father support. As such, screening mothers for ACEs in addition to father support may help identify those at higher risk of prenatal depression.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the HATCH Project participating clinics, and particularly Drs. Karen Gold, Jameca Price, and Lance Frye for their support. For more information, contact: Karina M. Shreffler.
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This research was supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health (P20GM109097; Jennifer Hays-Grudo, PI). Funding for open access publication was supported by the Cyndy Ellis-Purgason Endowed Chair held by KS at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing.
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Fields, K., Shreffler, K.M., Ciciolla, L. et al. Maternal childhood adversity and prenatal depression: the protective role of father support. Arch Womens Ment Health 26, 89–97 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-022-01278-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-022-01278-w