- Title
- Postnatal negative thoughts: an assessment target for addressing psychological distress in parents
- Creator
- Wroe, Jaime
- Relation
- University of Newcastle Research Higher Degree Thesis
- Resource Type
- thesis
- Date
- 2025
- Description
- Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Description
- This thesis explores the measurement and characterisation of paternal postnatal distress through the lens of parenting-specific negative thoughts. While the importance of maternal mental health during the perinatal period is widely acknowledged, paternal mental health remains under-recognised and under-supported. This research addresses this gap by developing and validating the Postnatal Negative Thoughts Screener (PNTS), a novel assessment tool designed for both mothers and fathers. The thesis is comprised of four studies. The first study is a systematic review of experimental studies involving negative thought interventions and psychological distress measures, establishing the feasibility and empirical validity of targeting negative thoughts for assessment and intervention. The second study outlines the development and psychometric properties of the PNTS, revealing a multidimensional bifactor model. The third study profiles negative thought experiences in a large cohort of mothers and fathers, identifying key predictors of postnatal negative thoughts and supporting the feasibility of collective early parenting supports. The fourth study is a longitudinal case series exploring the stability of negative thoughts, psychological distress, and paternal sense of competence in a small sample of fathers over the first six months post-birth. Findings indicate that parental negative thoughts provide a clear and measurable marker of psychological distress, with the PNTS offering comprehensive insight into the factors influencing distress in new parents. The research highlights the need for greater equality in perinatal care, advocating for the inclusion of fathers in routine screening and support programs. The PNTS represents a significant contribution to understanding and addressing the mental health needs of new parents, ultimately promoting better family wellbeing.
- Subject
- postnatal; postpartum; negative thoughts; fathers
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1520019
- Identifier
- uon:57436
- Rights
- Copyright 2025 Jaime Wroe
- Language
- eng
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| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details Download | ATTACHMENT01 | Thesis | 2 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download | ||
| View Details Download | ATTACHMENT02 | Abstract | 224 KB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |