Intrusive thoughts and psychotic-like experiences are more common among new parents than previously believed, according to new research from the University of East Anglia (UEA). The study, published in the Community Mental Health Journal, examined the mental health challenges faced by both mothers and fathers during the first year after childbirth.
The research team recruited 349 parents who had a baby within the past 12 months through parenting websites such as Mumsnet, Netmums, Dads Matter UK, and social media platforms. Participants completed an anonymous online survey that explored their mental health experiences.
Lead researcher Dr Jo Hodgekins from UEA's Norwich Medical School explained: "The perinatal period is a time of huge change for parents, and previous research has shown that more than one in five mothers experience mental health challenges during this time.
"Challenges like sleep deprivation, stress, and hormonal changes can all take a toll on the mental health of new parents.
"Most research to date has focused on depression and anxiety because they're so common. But we wanted to look beyond that and explore the wider range of mental health experiences parents face."
Dr Hodgekins noted that male parents may also experience these symptoms due to factors such as sleep deprivation, increased stress, and adapting to new responsibilities as fathers. However, she pointed out that about 90 percent of participants in this study were female. She said it would be valuable for future studies to include more male participants.
The findings indicate that these distressing experiences are not only widespread but are also linked with lower confidence in parenting abilities, higher stress levels, and increased depression and anxiety among new parents. This suggests there could be broader effects on family wellbeing.
"We found that psychotic-like experiences and intrusive thoughts are common among new parents. For a significant minority, these experiences cause severe distress, which is linked to higher parenting stress and lower perceived competence and satisfaction," Dr Hodgekins said.
"Our work highlights the need to normalise some of these experiences for new parents, reducing stigma and raising awareness so that conversations can be opened up about them.
"Intrusive thoughts and psychotic-like experiences don't always mean there's a clinical disorder, but they're common and can seriously affect parenting, so they deserve attention."
She added: "However, we also need to go beyond normalisation, by providing tailored and targeted support for those who find such experiences distressing, to improve mental health and parenting outcomes."
The researchers hope their work will encourage greater awareness of these issues as well as early screening measures and accessible mental health support for all parents—not just those with diagnosed conditions.
