Introduction The transition to parenthood can be a difficult period not only for women but for men too. Even if less investigated, literature reports, for high anxiety symptoms in men, a prevalence of 20% during their partner's pregnancy, with a high correlation with woman's symptoms (Matthey et al., 2003). Method The present study aimed at estimating prevalence of antenatal trait anxiety symptoms in a sample of Italian men and investigating the relationship with maternal variables (mood, anxiety and obstetric characteristics). 137 men (mean age: 35.6 ±5.8) attending antenatal classes with their partner were recruited during last trimester of pregnancy. Men completed STAI-T (Spielberger, 1983), for trait anxiety; their partners filled out EPDS (Cox et al., 1987), for depressive symptoms, PRAQ scale (Huizink et al., 2004) for pregnancy specific anxieties, STAI for state and trait anxiety and SPS-SIAS for social anxiety (Mattick & Clarke, 1998). Results High trait anxiety was present in 21.9% of men (n=30) (STAI-T>40). High- and low-trait anxious men showed similar sociodemographic characteristics (age, civil status, parity, planning pregnancy). Compared to men with low anxiety (n=107), partners of high anxious men presented significantly higher levels of trait anxiety (p<0.05) too, while no significant differences were detected for state anxiety, social anxiety and depressive symptomatology. Regarding pregnancy specific anxieties, women with high trait anxious partners showed a higher anxiety about their physical changes due to pregnancy (p<0.05). No differences emerged on obstetric outcomes between high trait and low trait anxious men. Conclusions High prevalence of trait anxiety symptoms in our male sample underlines the importance to assess paternal mood in the transition to parenthood (Cornish et al., 2008). Our results add new evidence to literature about how paternal anxiety is linked, other than to maternal trait anxiety, also to specific pregnancy anxieties.
Agostini, F., Dellabartola, S., Neri, E., Matthey, S., Sgrignani, F., Monti, F. (2014). Paternal trait anxiety during antenatal period: which relationship with maternal prenatal state?. INFANT MENTAL HEALTH JOURNAL, 35(3), 33-33.
Paternal trait anxiety during antenatal period: which relationship with maternal prenatal state?
AGOSTINI, FRANCESCA;DELLABARTOLA, SARA;NERI, ERICA;SGRIGNANI, FABIO;MONTI, FIORELLA
2014
Abstract
Introduction The transition to parenthood can be a difficult period not only for women but for men too. Even if less investigated, literature reports, for high anxiety symptoms in men, a prevalence of 20% during their partner's pregnancy, with a high correlation with woman's symptoms (Matthey et al., 2003). Method The present study aimed at estimating prevalence of antenatal trait anxiety symptoms in a sample of Italian men and investigating the relationship with maternal variables (mood, anxiety and obstetric characteristics). 137 men (mean age: 35.6 ±5.8) attending antenatal classes with their partner were recruited during last trimester of pregnancy. Men completed STAI-T (Spielberger, 1983), for trait anxiety; their partners filled out EPDS (Cox et al., 1987), for depressive symptoms, PRAQ scale (Huizink et al., 2004) for pregnancy specific anxieties, STAI for state and trait anxiety and SPS-SIAS for social anxiety (Mattick & Clarke, 1998). Results High trait anxiety was present in 21.9% of men (n=30) (STAI-T>40). High- and low-trait anxious men showed similar sociodemographic characteristics (age, civil status, parity, planning pregnancy). Compared to men with low anxiety (n=107), partners of high anxious men presented significantly higher levels of trait anxiety (p<0.05) too, while no significant differences were detected for state anxiety, social anxiety and depressive symptomatology. Regarding pregnancy specific anxieties, women with high trait anxious partners showed a higher anxiety about their physical changes due to pregnancy (p<0.05). No differences emerged on obstetric outcomes between high trait and low trait anxious men. Conclusions High prevalence of trait anxiety symptoms in our male sample underlines the importance to assess paternal mood in the transition to parenthood (Cornish et al., 2008). Our results add new evidence to literature about how paternal anxiety is linked, other than to maternal trait anxiety, also to specific pregnancy anxieties.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
