In mother groups, mental health challenges can spread among new parents. New research from the University of Copenhagen and VIVE shows that the risk of experiencing postnatal reactions, such as depression, increases if you interact with other parents who are affected.
In Denmark, new parents are typically placed in a parent group with 5-7 other families. For most people, the group is put together by healthcare providers based on geography and other practical considerations, without taking into account the mental health of the mothers or fathers. However, the composition of the groups can potentially have a significant impact on individual parents and their mental health.
A new study from the Department of Economics at the University of Copenhagen and VIVE shows that mental health problems can spill over from one parent to another. The researchers looked at data on mother groups (as parent groups that include both mothers and fathers are a relatively new phenomenon). They found that new mothers who are placed in groups with other mothers suffering from postpartum mental health risks are themselves at increased risk of developing mental health problems.
Thirteen to nineteen percent of new mothers experience postpartum mental health problems, making these problems one of the most common complications of childbirth.
The study, conducted in collaboration with researchers from VIVE and CEBI, is based on data from Statistics Denmark and health visitor records from 2012-2017. From the records, the researchers use detailed information about the mother's mental health (data from an EPDS screening used in most Danish municipalities to identify mothers with postpartum reactions). The study can show the effect of influences through mother groups because mothers do not choose their mother groups themselves. This means that there is a certain degree of arbitrariness in who you are exposed to in your mother group and thus whether you are in direct contact with mothers with postpartum reactions.
The research shows that mothers who have been in a group with at least one mother at increased risk of postnatal reactions are 11 percent more likely to seek mental health treatment themselves in the first two years after giving birth. The effect is seen in the form of more consultations with their own doctor, appointments with psychologists and psychiatrists, and a 30 percent increased risk of hospital visits related to mental illness.
"We believe that this effect is due to social contagion, but also to some extent to increased awareness of postpartum reactions, which comes from being together with other parents and can lead to seeking help from the healthcare system," says Miriam Wüst, associate professor at the Department of Economics.
Effect on the labor market
Being in a mother group with a mother experiencing postpartum reactions not only affects the mental health of the individual mother, but can also have an effect on the labor market. Mothers who have been exposed to postpartum reactions in their mothers' group are more likely to be on sick leave in the years immediately after giving birth.
The study also shows that the effect is greatest among mothers who themselves have moderate symptoms of depression. This suggests that these mothers are particularly vulnerable to the influence of their surroundings.
"Parent groups can be beneficial for new parents, but it is important to be aware that peer exposures also may impact mental health negatively," says Miram Wüst.
The researchers behind the study call for further research into the mechanisms that lead to social contagion in mother - or parent groups, so that health professionals can consider the composition of new groups or the organization of activities within the groups. They also believe that the role and mental health of fathers should be further investigated.
The study is titled 'Depressed Peers in Early Parenthood' and is published in The Review of Economics and Statistics.
