Marital communication during the transition to parenthood in the context of postpartum depression

Abstract

This study investigated marital communication in couples in which the wives presented indicators of postpartum depression. Participants were 15 couples in which both spouses responded to individual semi­?structured interviews. Data were subjected to qualitative content analysis, from two cathegories derived from literature: (a) expression of feelings and ideas and (b) resolution of problems. We have identified difficulties in expressing feelings and ideas by both the wives and the husbands. Dialoguing about couple’s problems was not a guarantee of their resolution. Fights, inadequate responses to feelings and ideas expressed by the spouse and the development of communication strategies that were perceived negatively by the other were some of the difficulties identified. Our results support previous studies which suggested that postpartum depression can affect marital communication, and marital relation, making this an issue for future studies and for interventions to attend this population.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17575/rpsicol.v25i2.287