Blue for Boy Babies Not a Coincidence?
Some people are calling it a statistical quirk. Others say it’s unexpected.Nevertheless, it is very interesting that a team of French researchers has recently announced that a study of 181 mothers of newborn babies finds a very high incidence of severe postnatal depression in mothers who’ve given birth to boy babies.
Of the 181 mothers studied at the University of Nancy, some very interesting findings turned up. According to lead researcher Professor Claude de Tychey, a baby’s gender seems to coincide with a significant difference in quality of life and in the chance of being diagnosed with severe postnatal depression.
Seventy percent of the mothers giving birth to boy babies reported a quality of life measured as lower than that reported by mothers of girl babies. Lifestyle issues in question included pain, physical fitness, and mental and emotional health.
And even though some mothers of girls reported mild postnatal depression, it was the mothers of boys who were most often diagnosed with severe depression. In this particular study, 17 of the 181 mothers was diagnosed with severe postnatal depression and 13 of the 17 gave birth to boys.
Even though cultural preference is usually in favor of boy babies, it is suggested that poor relationships with significant men in the lives of the mothers suffering from severe postnatal depression may influence the depression.
There was no difference in quality of life scores between first-time mothers and those giving birth for a second time.
While study results have been labeled interesting, quirky, and not entirely convincing, the study, reported in a recent issue of the Journal of Clinical Nursing, suggests the need for future research.
- Mesothelioma Treatment Reaches a New Breakthrough Moment
- Jeez, Doc, Get Some Sleep!
- Medical Exam Predicts Type 2 Diabetes as Well as Genetic Testing
- Medicaid Pays Millions for Unapproved Drugs
- Where’s the Beef? All Fast Foods Based on Corn
- Is Financial Fraud Behind Dramatic Spike in Pediatric Antipsychotics?
- Will Fast-Food Ads Follow the Marlboro Man Into History?
Loading ...
It is a very interesting research. I hope I wont have a depression.
Interesting….my personal experience and that of 4 of my friends was just the opposite. We had 2nd babies, all female and developed severe Post Partum Depression. None of us had problems with the firstborns (3 girls, 2 boys).
I don’t think the results of this study have been replicated by any other study. It seems to be just a chance finding. The gender of the baby does not affect the chance of getting Post natal depression.