Public Attitudes Towards Male Postnatal Depression on X
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58445/rars.3575Keywords:
Postnatal Depression, Fatherhood, Mental Health, Stigma, Public AttitudesAbstract
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a mental health condition that affects new parents following childbirth. PPD is recognized globally as a condition that occurs only in mothers, causing fathers' experiences to be overlooked and not a part of public discourse. Fathers then often rely on social media to validate their feelings, fearing judgment from the public. This study aimed to explore whether this fear is justified or not. Utilizing computational sentiment analysis and thematic analysis, it was found that the overall public perception of male postnatal depression on social media was ambivalent, presenting both stigmatizing and supportive attitudes. Six key themes also emerged from the study: stigma, expectation of rejection, cultural norms and masculinity, support and advocacy, media influence, and intimacy and relationships.
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