Abstract
PurposeInternalizing problems during and after pregnancy are important for parenting and child outcomes. The study aimed to understand correlates (i.e., marital satisfaction, co-parenting) of maternal internalizing problems during pregnancy with a second child.MethodWe investigated levels of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms of mothers in the third trimester of pregnancy with their second children. Fifty-one mothers and their firstborn children were visited in their homes and mothers completed questionnaires.ResultsResults showed that co-parenting and marital satisfaction were related to internalizing outcomes. More specifically, co-parenting predicted depression and stress when controlling for marital satisfaction, whereas marital satisfaction predicted anxiety over co-parenting.ConclusionThe findings highlight the importance of studying prenatal internalizing problems differentially and can inform future intervention studies to prevent poor psychological outcomes.
Highlights
The cost of perinatal mental health problems including depression and anxiety is around 8 billion pounds per year in the UK (Bauer et al, 2014)
Results showed that co-parenting and marital satisfaction were related to internalizing outcomes
Co-parenting predicted depression and stress when controlling for marital satisfaction, whereas marital satisfaction predicted anxiety over co-parenting
Summary
The cost of perinatal mental health problems including depression and anxiety is around 8 billion pounds per year in the UK (Bauer et al, 2014). Pregnant mothers are monitored by general practitioners (GP) and/or midwifes, there are some practices within mental health services specializing in mothers suffering from mental health issues. Pregnant women in the UK who are suffering from depression indicated emotional isolation and that research highlights the importance of increased midwifery support (Raymond, 2009). The purpose of the current study was to investigate the correlates of maternal internalizing problems in pregnancy with a second child. Based on family dynamics theory (Bowen, 1978) and current literature, we proposed two main predictors—co-parenting and marital satisfaction
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