Supportive Coparenting, Affection, and Mental Health after the Birth of a Child

In this study, we explored two elements of communication – supportive coparenting and affection – that may relate to parents’ mental health (stress and depression) after the birth of their child. Parents (N = 233) completed an online questionnaire within 12 months of the birth of their child. Results indicated that supportive coparenting was associated with lower stress and depression, and that the relationship between supportive coparenting and depression was attenuated by affection. In contrast, affection was related to greater stress. It appears that affection has nuanced relationships with mental health indicators after the birth of a child.