Fatherhood and a Partner's Postpartum Depression: Coping, Relationship Satisfaction, Gender Roles, and Empathy

The present study focused on assessing differences in new father’s coping styles when living with a partner suffering from symptoms of postpartum depression. It further investigated whether a relationship existed between father’s coping style and their level of relationship satisfaction, empathy, and views on gender. Five fathers, between the ages of 27 and 46 volunteered their participation in this study. Fathers were recruited through their partners from medical and mental health clinics and agencies offering services to new mothers or mothers suffering from symptoms of postpartum depression. The Coping Responses Inventory (CRI) was utilized to determine if differences existed in father’s coping. The Relationship Assessment (RAS), Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), and Sex-Role Egalitarianism Scale, Form BB (SRES), assisted in measuring level of relationship satisfaction, empathy and gender roles, respectively. To assist with the completion of this study, a quantitative research design was selected and applied. The use of a case study approach was further implemented to articulate if there was uniformity or differences in father’s coping styles and to examine any associations between fathers coping and their level of relationship satisfaction, empathy, and views on gender. Hypotheses were then tested across the five case studies. The study found that fathers differ in coping styles when their partners are suffering from symptoms of postpartum depression. Significant associations were not found between coping, and father’s level of relationship satisfaction, empathy and views on gender. The electronic version of this dissertation can be found at the OhioLink ETD Center, www.ohiolink.edu/etd.

Name thesis:degree_name

Psy. D.

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Antioch Santa Barbara: Clinical Psychology

Grantor dc:publisher

Antioch University

Year dc:date

2012

Author dc:creator

• Ruiz, Martha G.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Treviño, Salvador

• Clinical Psychology
• Families and Family Life
• Gender
• Mental Health
• Psychology
• Postpartum Depression
• fatherhood
• coping
• relationship satisfaction
• gender roles
• empathy
• coping styles
• quantitative

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1365789899

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:antioch1365789899