A new study from France reveals that women who give birth to male babies are more likely to struggle with post-natal depression.
French researchers discovered severe post-natal depression is the strongest in women after they delivered male babies.
“When we launched our research, our main aim was to study the effect that gender has on post-natal depression,” said Professor Claude de Tychey. “But the overwhelming finding of the study was the fact that gender appears to play a significant role in reduced quality of life as well as an increased chance of severe post-natal depression.”
What’s the connection between male babies and depression? It’s not the cultural pressure of having a boy – past studies have revealed that depression is higher in communities that place greater value on sons, but this particular French community welcomes both genders. It’s not the experience of starting a family; these women had the same general scores regardless of whether this was their first or second child.
Professor de Tychey says that further research is needed to unravel the connection between males and depression.
“Post-natal depression is very common and poses a major public health problem, especially if it is not diagnosed and treated,” he says. “We believe that our findings have important public health consequences, as they point to the need for developing prevention and early psychotherapeutic programs for women giving birth to boys.”
Note that not all new moms with baby boys will become depressed. This is simply one study of one group of women. It's interesting, but it doesn't mean that post-natal depression is a given for mothers of boys.
Links to articles about depression:
Source: Blackwell Publishing. (2008, February 13). Male Births Are More Likely To Reduce Quality Of Life And Increase Severe Post-natal Depression. Eurekalert.
