TY - JOUR
T1 - Psychological Distress, Alcohol Use, Fatigue, Sleepiness, and Sleep Quality
T2 - An Exploratory Study Among Men Whose Partners Are Admitted to a Residential Early Parenting Service
AU - Wynter, Karen
AU - Wilson, Nathan
AU - Thean, Patsy
AU - Bei, Bei
AU - Fisher, Jane
PY - 2019/4
Y1 - 2019/4
N2 - Objective: In Australia, residential early parenting services (REPS) provide structured, psycho-educational programs for unsettled infant behaviour and associated maternal difficulties. Thus far, most studies have focused on the psychological functioning of women admitted to these services; few studies have investigated the mental health of their male partners and none have used standardised measures to assess alcohol use, fatigue, sleepiness, and sleep quality. The aim of this exploratory survey was to assess mental health problems, alcohol use, and sleep-related functioning among men whose partners and infants were admitted to a privately funded REPS. Method: Male partners of women admitted to an REPS in Melbourne, Australia, during a 5-month period completed surveys including self-report measures of depression, anxiety, stress, irritability, alcohol use, fatigue, sleepiness, and sleep quality. Surveys were completed by 53 men; mean age was 36years. Mean scores on standardised instruments were compared with normative or comparison data. The proportions of participants scoring in the clinical range on each measure are reported. Results: Mean scores on measures of stress, irritability, fatigue, sleepiness, and sleep quality were significantly worse than norms for healthy adults. Fifty-one percent of men screened positive for alcohol misuse; 53% reported clinically significant fatigue and 82% scored in the clinical range for poor sleep quality. Conclusions: This study provides preliminary evidence that men whose partners are admitted to an REPS may have impaired psychological and sleep-related functioning, which might affect interactions with their partners and infants. Service enhancement to assess and address the needs of men is indicated.
AB - Objective: In Australia, residential early parenting services (REPS) provide structured, psycho-educational programs for unsettled infant behaviour and associated maternal difficulties. Thus far, most studies have focused on the psychological functioning of women admitted to these services; few studies have investigated the mental health of their male partners and none have used standardised measures to assess alcohol use, fatigue, sleepiness, and sleep quality. The aim of this exploratory survey was to assess mental health problems, alcohol use, and sleep-related functioning among men whose partners and infants were admitted to a privately funded REPS. Method: Male partners of women admitted to an REPS in Melbourne, Australia, during a 5-month period completed surveys including self-report measures of depression, anxiety, stress, irritability, alcohol use, fatigue, sleepiness, and sleep quality. Surveys were completed by 53 men; mean age was 36years. Mean scores on standardised instruments were compared with normative or comparison data. The proportions of participants scoring in the clinical range on each measure are reported. Results: Mean scores on measures of stress, irritability, fatigue, sleepiness, and sleep quality were significantly worse than norms for healthy adults. Fifty-one percent of men screened positive for alcohol misuse; 53% reported clinically significant fatigue and 82% scored in the clinical range for poor sleep quality. Conclusions: This study provides preliminary evidence that men whose partners are admitted to an REPS may have impaired psychological and sleep-related functioning, which might affect interactions with their partners and infants. Service enhancement to assess and address the needs of men is indicated.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85047527421&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/ap.12348
DO - 10.1111/ap.12348
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85047527421
SN - 0005-0067
VL - 54
SP - 143
EP - 150
JO - Australian Psychologist
JF - Australian Psychologist
IS - 2
ER -