Mental health of parents with Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases during early child development

Scientific study title:

Mental Health in Individuals with Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases During Early Parenting: A Gender Based Approach to Identify Associated Factors and Support Needs

Principal Investigator:

Deborah Da Costa, Scientist, Research Institute, McGill University Health Centre, Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program, Centre for Outcomes Research and Evaluation; Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Research Scientist, Arthritis Research Canada

Co-Investigators:

Mary De Vera, Research Scientist, Arthritis Research Canada;
Associate Dean Postdoctoral Fellows, Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, University of British Columbia
Associate Director Education, Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation
Scientist, Centre for Health Evaluation & Outcomes Science (CHÉOS)
Canada Research Chair, Medication Adherence, Utilization, and Outcomes

Paul R Fortin, Tenured Professor, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Université Laval; Canada Research Chair on Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases; Clinician-Scientist, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval; Senior Scientist, Arthritis Research Canada

Évelyne Vinet, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Divisions of Rheumatology and Experimental Medicine; Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Epidemiology,
Associate Member, Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health
Medical Scientist, Department of Clinical Epidemiology of the MUHC

Elham Rahme, PhD, Scientist, Research Institute, McGill University Health Centre, Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program, Centre for Outcomes Research and Evaluation; Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University,

Madame F Demontigny

Study Start Date:

April 2023

Study End Date:

September 2029

Why do this research?

Individuals affected by autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) encounter a range of challenges that can negatively impact mental health. Depression and anxiety are almost twice that of the general population. Mental health has been shown to negatively impact disease course and quality of life. Becoming a parent is a major life event that brings additional challenges to those managing disease specific factors and the new challenges of parenting. Understanding and promoting mental health in parents with young children is particularly important given the adverse impacts of parental mental health problems on child development.

What will be done?

This study will advance the limited knowledge base on the mental health of mothers and fathers during the early parenting years. The findings will define the mental health resources and intervention approaches to better support the needs of persons living with ARDs during this critical life stage.

This study will include individuals with ARDs from across Canada who have children five years and younger. An online survey and follow up interviews will be used to determine:
1. mental health outcomes
2. the relative contribution of disease-specific, psychosocial and parenting-specific factors
to severity of depressive and anxiety symptoms;
3. barriers, support needs and preferences to manage mental health during this critical life stage.

Who is involved?

Parents with ARDs who have children 5 years and younger will be recruited from across Canada to complete an online survey and a sub-group will be interviewed.

How are Equity, Diversity and Inclusion addressed or taken into consideration?

Care will be taken to select participant and sub-group participants with diverse backgrounds (i.e. socio-economic, ethnicity, gender, etc.)

Funding Agency

Canadian Institutes of Health Research