Effect of the Marital Adjustment on the Prevalence of Postpartum Depression in Fathers

Objective: The postpartum period is a process that can affect all members of the family and bring about stressful situations. Postpartum depression, which is one of the problems that we may encounter during this period, can complicate the process further. This study was conducted to analyze the effect of marital adjustment on the prevalence of postpartum depression in fathers. Material and Method: This study was performed in January-April 2019 with the participation of 450 fathers who presented to family health centers for routine healthcare services. A structured Participant Information Form, the Marriage Adjustment Test, and the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale were used to collect data. Results: In the study, it was found that the mean total Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and Marital Adjustment Test scores of the participants were 5.96±6.09 and 43.6±9.67, respectively, and there was a statistically significant negative relationship between their mean Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score and mean Marital Adjustment Test score (r=0.447, p=0.000). Conclusion: In this study, it was discerned that the marital adjustment between spouses affected postpartum depression in fathers, and fathers who had well-adjusted marital relationships were exposed to a lower risk of depression