No help from dad gives mum the blues, new study
Media Release, Friday 4 August 2006
Men who are critical of their partners and provide limited care of new babies are contributing to mothers’ poor mental health, a new study shows.
Academics from the University of Melbourne’s Key Centre for Women’s Health in Society have found a significant relationship between mood disturbance in mothers, and fathers who were critical and had little or no involvement in caring for the baby or doing housework.
The research is to be presented at The Australian Society for Psychosocial Obstetrics and Gynaecology conference in Sydney this weekend.
“Father’s who displayed critical behaviour and are reluctant to involve themselves in caring for infants and sharing housework are increasing their partner’s risk of distress,” said Professor Jane Fisher who led the study.
The study involved 145 women who were admitted to two public and private early parenting centres in Melbourne (Tweddle Child and Family Health Service (TCFHS) and Masada Private Hospital Mother Baby Unit (MPHMBU). New mothers are admitted to early parenting centres if they have unsettled babies or are at risk of mental health problems after the birth of a baby.
Fathers were found to be lacking in support in the areas of bathing, soothing and settling. Women were doing around three quarters of the domestic tasks including cleaning, washing up, cooking, clothes’ washing and answering the phone.
Fathers had more than double the number of leisure hours than mothers. Most fathers were the primary income earners in these households and on average were away from home working or commuting for 47.5 hours per week, with a range up to 80 hours.
“Services and treatments for women with post natal depression always focus on women. This work shows is that we need to work with men too as they adjust to their new parenting roles,” said Professor Fisher.
To arrange interviews, please contact
Amanda Tattam, Key Centre for Women’s Health in Society,
Phone: 61 3 8344 7069
Mobile: 0413 997 467
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