Stress, Depressive Symptoms, and Maternal Self-Efficacy in First-Time Mothers: Modelling and Predicting Change across the First Six Months of Motherhood.

Abstract

First-time mothers commonly experience stress and depressive symptoms in the postpartum period. Maternal self-efficacy has been shown to be an important protective factor against these experiences; however, research on the dynamic nature of stress, depressive symptoms, and maternal self-efficacy is limited. The aim of this study was to document changes in these psychological factors among first-time mothers, and determine how early maternal self-efficacy perceptions may predict change in stress and depressive symptoms over the first 6months postpartum. Sixty first-time Australian mothers were recruited during their third trimester of pregnancy. Participants completed a baseline survey during the third trimester of pregnancy (M=32.87weeks, SD=2.62weeks), and subsequently reported stress, depressive symptoms, and maternal self-efficacy every 3weeks postpartum for 6months. Latent growth curve modelling was used to estimate participants' change over time for stress and depressive symptoms. First-time mothers' stress and depressive symptoms peaked, and maternal self-efficacy was weakest, at 3weeks postpartum. Maternal self-efficacy at 3weeks postpartum was a significant (negative) predictor of 3-week levels of, and also (positively) predicted later reductions in, stress. Future interventions aimed at bolstering early maternal self-efficacy may protect against postpartum stress for first-time mothers.