Myers, Sarah, Burger, Oskar F., Johns, Sarah E. (2016) Postnatal depression and reproductive success in modern, low-fertility contexts. Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health, 1 . pp. 71-84. ISSN 2050-6201. E-ISSN 2050-6201. (doi:10.1093/emph/eow003) (KAR id:54433)
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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/emph/eow003 |
Abstract
Background and objectives: Postnatal depression (PND) presents a puzzling phenomenon to evolutionary
anthropologists as it is highly prevalent and yet detrimental to child development and maternal
health. Adaptive explanations have been proposed, but have not been tested with data that directly link
PND to female fertility.
Methodology: A survey was designed to gather complete reproductive histories and retrospective measures
of PND to measure the effects of PND on fitness. Respondents were born between 1930 and 1967,
with the majority based in the UK during their childrearing years. The hypothesis that PND is detrimental
to fitness is assessed using Mann–Whitney U tests on completed fertility. Binary logistic regression
modelling is used to test the hypothesis that PND reduces the likelihood of parity progression.
Results: Women experiencing PND at their first or second birth have lower completed fertility, with PND
at the first birth leading to lowered fertility. Logistic regression analyses show that this is the result of
reductions in the likelihood of parity progression to a third birth when PND is experienced at the first
birth or when repeat bouts occur.
Conclusions and implications: Our results call into question adaptationist arguments, contribute to the
growing understanding of the importance of emotional wellbeing to fertility decision making, and given
the economic consequences of markedly below replacement fertility, highlight a potential new source of
financial incentive to invest in screening and preventative measures to ensure good maternal mental
health.
Item Type: | Article |
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DOI/Identification number: | 10.1093/emph/eow003 |
Uncontrolled keywords: | postnatal depression; life history; evolutionary demography; fertility; parity progression |
Subjects: |
H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Women Q Science > Q Science (General) R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA788 Sexual health R Medicine > RG Gynecology and obstetrics R Medicine > RG Gynecology and obstetrics > RG551 Pregnancy R Medicine > RT Nursing |
Divisions: | Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation |
Depositing User: | Sarah Johns |
Date Deposited: | 15 Mar 2016 13:10 UTC |
Last Modified: | 04 Sep 2024 22:08 UTC |
Resource URI: | https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/54433 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes) |
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