Abstract

This study examined the longitudinal influence of mothers’ antenatal and postnatal depression, and the moderation effect of fathers’ involvement in child rearing. Participants comprised 98 mothers and fathers residing in metropolitan areas. At the sixth month of pregnancy, mothers reported their levels of antenatal depression. Levels of postpartum depression and fathers’ involvement were subsequently reported at four months after birth. Additionally, mothers provided ratings for parenting stress, self-efficacy and parental acceptance at ten months after birth. The findings indicated mothers’ antenatal depression significantly predicted their postpartum depression. Furthermore, these early depressive symptoms in mothers predicted subsequent parenting variables. However, the influence of mothers’ antenatal depression on parenting stress lost its significance when fathers’ involvement was high. Thus, fathers’ involvement appeared to act as a protective factor. This suggests that fathers’ active engagement in child rearing can serve as an intervention and prevention for mothers’ mental health.