The Effect of Maternal and Paternal Depressive Symptom Levels in the Postpartum Period on Marital Adjustment and Quality of Sexual Life

Cyprus Turkish Journal of Psychiatry & Psychology Vol.7 Issue.1

Doi:10.35365/ctjpp.25.1.07

RESEARCH ARTICLE / ARAŞTIRMA YAZISI

The Effect of Maternal and Paternal Depressive Symptom Levels in the Postpartum Period on Marital Adjustment and Quality of Sexual Life

Doğum Sonu Dönemde Görülen Anne ve Baba Depresif Belirti Düzeyinin Evlilik Uyumu ve Cinsel Yaşam kalitesine Etkisi

Dilek Ayakdaş Dağlı¹ Ekin Dila Topaloğlu Ören²

Abstract:

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of maternal and paternal depressive symptoms on marital adjustment and quality of sexual life in the postnatal period. The study was a cross-sectional and correlational study. The research data were collected from 60 couples who came to a state hospital obstetrics and gynaecology outpatient clinic for a follow-up visit by using an Individual Identification Form, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Sexual Quality of Life Scale, and Marital Adjustment Scale. Percentage, mean, standard deviation, correlation analysis and regression analysis were used to analyse the relationship between variables. While there was a statistically significant and positive relationship between the mean total score of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the mean total score of the Marital Adjustment Scale (r=0.704, p<0.05), there was a statistically significant and negative relationship with the mean total score of the Sexual Quality of Life Scale (r=-0.358, p<0.05). While there was a statistically moderately significant and negative relationship between the mean total score of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the mean total score of the Marital Adjustment Scale of the fathers (r=-0.562, p<0.05), a statistically significant and negative relationship was found with the mean total score of the Sexual Quality of Life Scale (r=-0.811, p<0.05). In the regression analysis, maternal and observed depressive symptom levels predicted marital adjustment and sexual quality of life by 49.6% and 70%, respectively. In conclusion, depressive symptom levels of mothers and fathers affect both marital adjustment and quality of sexual life.

Keywords: Depressive Symptoms, Marital Adjustment, Mother and Father, Sexuality

¹PhD, Izmir Katip Celebi University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, Division of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, Izmir, Türkiye, E-mail: [email protected], ORCID ID: 0000-0001-7531-3552

²PhD, Izmir Katip Celebi University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, Division of Women’s Health and Diseases Nursing, Izmir, Turkey, E-mail: [email protected], ORCID ID: 0000-0002-7665-4524.

Address of Correspondence/Yazışma Adresi: Dilek Ayakdaş Dağlı, Izmir Kâtip Celebi University, Balatçık Neighborhood, Airport Road No:33/2, Balatçık, 35620 Izmir, Turkey, E-mail: [email protected]

Date of Received/Geliş Tarihi: 10.09.2024, Date of Revision/Düzeltme Tarihi: 05.12.2024, Date of Acceptance/Kabul Tarihi: 17.12.2024, Date of Online Publication/Çevirimiçi Yayın Tarihi: 20.03.2025

Citing/Referans Gösterimi: Ayakdaş Dağlı, D. & Topaloğlu Ören, E.D (2025). The Effect of Maternal and Paternal Depressive Symptom Levels in the Postpartum Period on Marital Adjustment and Quality of Sexual Life, Cyprus Turkish Journal of Psychiatry & Psychology 7(1), 59-65

© 2025 The Author(s). Published by Cyprus Mental Health Institute / Cyprus Turkish Journal of Psychiatry and Psychology (www.ktppdergisi.com). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/