Richman J A, Raskin V D, Gaines C
Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois, Chicago 60612.
J Nerv Ment Dis. 1991 Mar;179(3):139-47. doi: 10.1097/00005053-199103000-00005.
Although women are assumed to be particularly vulnerable to depressive symptomatology after childbirth, the extent to which this symptomatology predominates over that found in men at this life cycle stage has not been addressed. This study examined gender differences in postpartum depressive symptomatology and the link between postpartum symptomatology and gender roles and relationships in a sample obtained from childbirth preparation classes. The data show no gender difference in depressive symptomatology at 2 months after childbirth. Women manifested a decrease in depressive symptomatology and men showed a slight increase from the preparenthood point. We partially link women's equivalent rather than higher distress levels to the protective effects of their varied social supports. By contrast, men depended primarily on their spouses, but both genders experienced a decrease in spouse support after childbirth. Female lack of support was more strongly associated with symptomatology in homemakers compared with employed women or women on maternity leave. Within the context of gender role changes, the data highlight benefits of female bonding in contrast to the "costs of caring" depicted by other researchers.
尽管人们认为女性在产后特别容易出现抑郁症状，但在这个生命周期阶段，这种症状比男性更为普遍的程度尚未得到探讨。本研究调查了产后抑郁症状的性别差异，以及从分娩准备课程中抽取的样本中产后症状与性别角色及关系之间的联系。数据显示，产后2个月时抑郁症状没有性别差异。女性的抑郁症状有所减轻，而男性相比为人父母前则略有增加。我们部分地将女性相当而非更高的痛苦水平与她们多样的社会支持的保护作用联系起来。相比之下，男性主要依赖配偶，但产后两性从配偶那里得到的支持都减少了。与职业女性或休产假的女性相比，家庭主妇中女性缺乏支持与症状的关联更强。在性别角色变化的背景下，数据突出了女性之间亲密关系的益处，这与其他研究人员所描述的“照料成本”形成对比。
