Addressing Women and Men Perinatal Mental Health: Towards a Multi-Dimensional Approach

Dear Colleagues,

Perinatal mental health is not a new research topic. Previous studies have well documented the prevalence estimates of postpartum depression (PPD) among women, its antecedents, correlates, and consequences for the mother, the father, the child, and the whole family. However, research has shown that perinatal mental health problems go beyond depressive symptoms (e.g., anxiety and childbirth-related post-traumatic stress symptoms) during the postpartum period (e.g., pregnancy and the whole perinatal period). Similarly, the focus on mental health problems has been extended to include positive dimensions of well-being (e.g., flourishing), rather than focusing only on psychopathological symptoms. There has also been greater attention paid to the biological mechanisms, such as biomarkers, underlying and/or associated (e.g., cortisol reactivity and cytokines) with perinatal mental health problems and their impact on infant development. However, an integrative, comprehensive picture of these new focuses/approaches remains to be achieved. Regarding the correlates and predictors of perinatal mental health problems, couple (e.g., dyadic coping, satisfaction, intimate partner violence)- and parent (e.g., self-efficacy, coparenting, mindful parenting)-related variables have also received substantive attention in recent years. The use of dyadic (e.g., the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model; APIM) and family-level analyses, as well as of a prospective longitudinal design with multiple methods of data collection across the prenatal and the postpartum period, could advance current knowledge on how these variables interact with perinatal mental health problems.

Although meaningful advances have been demonstrated in women’s perinatal mental health, men’s and couples’ mental health during this period remains understudied, with particular regard to its determinants and consequences for child development. The adoption of a relationship science framework in this field has been recently advocated. On a related note, from a clinical standpoint, risk assessment tools and prevention and intervention approaches also remain focused on women’s PPD, with few approaches available that focus beyond PPD and on men’s/couples’ mental health. Finally, the mechanisms underlying the impact of perinatal mental health problems (e.g., biological processes, mother–father–child interaction) on child development (e.g., self-regulation and internalizing and externalizing problems) need to be further understood.

To move forward in this field, and to enhance the early identification and prevention of mental health problems among women, men, and couples in this critical time of life, we strongly encourage papers (i.e., reviews, meta-analyses, and qualitative and quantitative studies) addressing different dimensions of perinatal mental health from pregnancy to 24 months postpartum, covering one or more of the following features:

• Dyad or triad as the unit of analysis;
• Men’s mental health;
• Pregnancy and/or the postpartum period (up to 24 months postpartum);
• Anxiety, depression, and/or childbirth-related post-traumatic stress symptoms;
• Positive dimensions of mental health and well-being;
• Biological mechanisms associated with perinatal mental health;
• Risk and protective factors (ecological perspective) related to perinatal mental health, particularly couple- and parent-related processes;
• Impact of perinatal mental health on parenting behaviors, infant health, and/or development;
• Preventive and intervention approaches (e.g., couple-based/focused interventions) for improving women’s, men’s, or couples’ perinatal mental health;
• Prospective longitudinal studies that consider the whole perinatal period;
• Dyadic (e.g., APIM) and family-level analyses;
• Multiple methods of data collection (self-report questionnaires, interview, observation, and physiological and imaging data);
• Screening and risk assessment tools.

Dr. Stephanie Alves
Dr. Tiago Miguel Pinto
Guest Editors

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• pregnancy, postpartum, and perinatal period
• women, men, or couple
• well-being
• mental health symptoms or disorders (e.g., anxiety, depression, childbirth-related posttraumatic stress)
• couple, parent and/or triad-related processes
• biological, psychological, and social mechanisms
• infant health and development
• parenting, couple, or family-based interventions
• screening and risk assessment