Conference Proceedings - School of Nursing & Midwifery - Trinity ...

School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin: 8 th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference
Transforming Healthcare Through Research, Education & Technology: 7 th – 9 th November 2007
Conference Proceedings
Socio-demographic Factors
The relationship between the syndrome and socio-demographic
factors such as age, educational level, social class, number of
previous children and planned or unplanned pregnancy all show
inconsistent findings with ethnicity being the only exception. Brown
(1983) confirmed a greater presence of the syndrome in men
younger than thirty years old, while Bogren (1989) found it was
more common among those older than thirty of a higher
educational level and social class while Munroe and Munroe (1971,
1973); Trethowan in Howells (1972); Lipkin and Lamb (1982) all
indicate a greater prevalence of the syndrome among those with
lower education. Strickland (1987) reported that working class men
experienced a significantly higher number of somatic and
psychological symptoms compared to those who were middle class.
Clinton (1986) refutes the findings of age and educational level as
correlates of the syndrome. Ethnicity consistently shows a higher
incidence of the syndrome among black men (Taylor, 1951, Munroe
and Munroe, 1971, Munroe et al, 1973, Clinton, 1986). These
disparate findings might be explained by problems of sample size
variation, cultural and age differences across studies, socioeconomic
class variability, and geographical distributions.
Theoretical Perspectives
A plethora of theories have been offered to account for the origins
of the Couvade Syndrome. Psychoanalytical theories propose that it
emanates from the man’s envy of the woman’s procreative ability
(Bohem 1930; Van Leeuwen 1965; Osofsky and Culp in Cath et al
1989; and Rapheal-Leff, 1991). Another psychoanalytical
perspective maintains that pregnancy for the expectant man acts as
a catalyst for the emergence of ambivalence and resurgence of
Oedipal conflicts (Gerzi and Berman 1981; Osofsky, and Culp in
Cath et al 1989). Others propose that the syndrome arises because
of the man’s rivalry with his unborn child (Malthie et al 1980; Mayer
and Kapfhammer 1993), (Mayer and Kapfhammer in Brahler and
Unger 1996). Psychosocial theories argue it occurs as a reactive
process to the marginalisation of fatherhood (Clinton, 1986; Mayer
and Kapfhammer, 1993). However the feminist perspective rejects
this arguing instead for the increased and active participation of
men in pregnancy and the birthing process (Clinton 1986; Jordan,
1990; Scopesi and Repetto 1990; Klein 1991; Masoni et al 1994;
Polomeno, 1998). Another psychosocial theory proposes that the
syndrome is a consequence of men’s transitional crisis to
parenthood (Jordan 1990; Imle 1990; Klein 1991; Polomeno,
1998). Paternal Involvement theories argue for a relationship
between men’s involvement in the pregnancy, role preparation and
the syndrome (Weaver and Cranley 1983; Clinton 1987;
- 34 -