Impact Of Postpartum Depression Research Articles

Postpartum Depression: Its Impact on Couples and Marital Satisfaction

Postpartum depression affects 13% of women who give birth. Although traditional treatment identified the woman as the patient, current thinking recognizes that postpartum depression may occur within the context of a family system and may be experienced by the new mother as “failing” to meet her needs. This perception has repercussions for the marital relationship. The following article describes the impact of postpartum depression on marital satisfaction and reviews some of the clinical approaches used in treatment. The paper presents a case example, using an attachment theory perspective and couple therapy to address a woman's antenatal depression, reduce her risks for postpartum depression, and increase marital satisfaction.

The Impact of Postpartum Depression on Mothering

As a rule, mothers are the primary caregivers of infants regardless of employment or marital status. Thus, any factors that impact mothering affect the infant and have public health significance. National attention is now focused on postpartum depression, a major variable affecting mothering. The impact of postpartum depression on the various components of the maternal role is described. Recommendations for health care practice include screening for depression across the first postpartum year and developing a strong network for mental health referrals.

Impact of Postpartum Depression on the Mother‐Infant Couple

Few studies have explored the influence of postpartum depression on later life among mothers in Taiwan. The present follow-up study aims to explore the effects of postpartum depression on the psychosocial health of mothers and on the overall development of their infants. Follow-up evaluations were carried out on 29 postnatally depressed and 31 nondepressed mothers and their infants at 1 year after childbirth. Dependent variables were measured by means of five structured questionnaires. Postnatally depressed mothers reported significantly higher perceived stress, but lower social support and self-esteem than nondepressed mothers at 1 year after childbirth. The participants' postpartum depression had no significant effect on their infants' eight developmental areas, nor did depression influence their plans about the number of children to have in the future. Postpartum depression may have a negative influence on the psychosocial health of women, but it does not appear to influence the overall development of their infants and their family planning.

The impact of postpartum depression on child development

There is evidence for an association between postpartum depression and a number of indices of adverse child outcome. In infants of mothers with postpartum depression, deficits have been found in their early interactions and their cognitive functioning. A high rate of insecure attachment is also apparent. There is also evidence for a longer term association: cognitive development in the four-year-olds of mothers who have had a postpartum depression appears compromised (at least in boys from lower socio-economic backgrounds), and there is an association with behavioural disturbance. Longitudinal analyses reveal that the impaired patterns of early interaction occurring between mother and infant in the context of the maternal mood disorder may be an important determinant of some of these adverse child outcomes. With respect to cognitive development, there is evidence of a sensitive developmental period, although its precise parameters are uncertain. Observational and experimental studies are needed to elucida...