A qualitative study of depressive symptoms and well‐being among first‐time mothers

Haga, Silje Marie; Lynne, Anita; Slinning, Kari; Kraft, Pål

doi:10.1111/j.1471-6712.2011.00950.x

Cited by 57 publications

(81 citation statements)

References 30 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Research has either focused on women's well-being as absence of psycho-pathological disorders (Haga, Lynne, Slinning & Kraft, 2012;Webster, Nicholas, Velacott, Cridland & Fawcett, 2011;Zubaran & Foresti, 2011) or on single components of well-being, prominently privileging hedonic indicators (Hoffenaar, van Balen & Hermanns, 2010;Rollero & Tartaglia, 2009;Dyrdal, Roysamb, Bang Nes & Vitterso, 2011), except for few studies focusing on eudaimonic ones (Delle Fave & Massimini, 2004;Taubman -Ben-Ari et al, 2012).…”

Section: A Longitudinal Study On Motherhood and Well-beingmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Longitudinal Study on Motherhood and Well-Being: Developmental and Clinical Implications

et al. 2013

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Pregnancy and puerperium are crucial periods at both the biological and psychological levels. The aim of this longitudinal study was to investigate women's perceived health and illness during pregnancy and puerperium through the assessment of hedonic and eudaimonic components of well-being, symptoms of peripartum depression, and their relationship. Nineteen women recruited at the Unit of Obstetrics and Gynecology of a university hospital in Northern Italy were enrolled and answered a set of questionnaires at two time points: 20-22 weeks of gestation and 6 months after childbirth. Results showed a substantial lack of correlation between the dimensions of mental illness and mental health. The analysis of the well-and ill-being components showed low levels of depression as well as good levels of mental health, especially concerning the eudaimonic components of well-being, both during and after pregnancy. Overall, findings attested to a general stability of well-being over pregnancy and puerperium. Key words: positive psychology, hedonic and eudaimonic well-being, peripartum depression. ResumenEl embarazo y el puerperio son periodos cruciales tanto a nivel biológico como psicológico. El objetivo de este estudio longitudinal fue investigar la percepción de las mujeres sobre su salud y enfermedad durante el embarazo y el puerperio mediante la evaluación de componentes hedónicos y eudaimónicos del bienestar, síntomas de depresión, y sus relaciones. Participaron 19 mujeres contactadas en la Unidad de Obstetricia y Ginecología de un hospital italiano, quienes respondieron a unos cuestionarios a las 20-22 semanas de la gestación y a los 6 meses tras el parto. Los resultados mostraron una sustancial falta de correlación entre dimensiones de salud y de enfermedad mental. El análisis del bienestar y malestar mostraron bajos niveles de depresión así como buenos niveles de salud mental, especialmente en los componentes eudaimónicos del bienestar, tanto durante como después del embarazo. Globalmente nuestros hallazgos indican una estabilidad general del bienestar en el embarazo y el puerperio. Palabras Clave: psicología positiva, bienestar hedónico y eudaimónico, depresión periparto.

show abstract

Section: A Longitudinal Study On Motherhood and Well-beingmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Longitudinal Study on Motherhood and Well-Being: Developmental and Clinical Implications

et al. 2013

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…When encountering a traumatic childbirth, a mother may be well equipped to handle this emotionally and find a path of recovery. However, when her capacity to adapt to such though situations is hindered by a personal approach characterized by rigidity and a high level of perfectionism, recovery may be more difficult (Haga, Lynne, Slinning, & Kraft, 2012). …”

Section: Dialoguementioning

confidence: 99%

New mothers’ struggles to love their child. An interpretative synthesis of qualitative studies

Røseth

Bongaardt

Lyberg

et al. 2018

International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose: New mothers may question the nature of their motherly love after the birth. Most mothers find that feelings of affection come within a week from birth. However, some mothers are still struggling with this after many months. Many studies place strong emphasis on the importance of maternal affection for the development of the child. Few studies look into mothers’ experiences when maternal affection or love remains a struggle. Method:We present an interpretative synthesis based on a systematic analysis of five qualitative studies that report findings related to mothers’ stated inability to exhibit maternal affection. Result:In answer to our question “what characterizes the experiences of women who struggle with, or are unable to exhibit, maternal affection after birth”, we identified the uncertainty involved in imagining the unborn child, birth and maternal future, birth as a disillusionment, and the ensuing process of decreasing agency and increasing alienation. Especially a traumatic birth may lead to disillusionment. Conclusion: Health care workers and research can support a mother’s positive resolution of her struggle by promoting realistic and more open expectations for maternal affection as well as her sense of agency and ownership during birth and the early mother–child relationship.

show abstract

“…In Ugarizza's (2002) study, none of the participants believed that biology was the sole culprit of their distress, although a few did attribute some degree of responsibility to hormonal factors. More often, these women felt that a lack of preparedness for motherhood (Choi, Henshaw, Baker, & Tree, 2005;Homewood, Tweed, Cree, & Crossley, 2009;Zelkowitz & Milet, 1997), lack of support (also in Zelkowitz & Milet, 1997), fatigue and difficulties in breastfeeding (also in Haga, Lynne, Slinning, & Kraft, 2012) and delivery were the major contributors to their PPD. Other possible contributing factors could be high levels of stress (including work and financial; Zelkowitz & Milet, 1997), low self-esteem and loneliness, as well as feelings of incompetence, loss of self, an inability to cope (Letourneau et al, 2010), and isolation (Knudson-Martin & Silverstein, 2009).…”

Section: Causal Theoriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The accumulation and/or perception of stressors in the postpartum period create a burden that is difficult for a new mother to cope with (e.g., Whiffen, 2004). Postpartum social supports (e.g., friends, family, financial) have been heralded as some of the most important preventative and ameliorating factors for PPD (Bina, 2008;Haga et al, 2012;Negron, Martin, Almog, Balbierz, & Howell, 2013;Posmontier & Horowitz, 2004), especially instrumental (e.g., being helped with practical tasks, such as housework, Garfield & Isacco, 2005;Negron et al, 2013) and emotional supports (KnudsonMartin & Silverstein, 2009). Much of this research comes from cross-cultural studies, where lower incidences of PPD are attributed, at least in part, to supportive postpartum cultural rituals (Bina, 2008;Posmontier & Horowitz, 2004 Dzakpasu & Pelletier, 2009).…”

Section: Causal Theoriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Constructions of motherhood and fatherhood in newspaper articles on maternal and paternal postpartum depression

Alexander

McMullen

2015

Gender and Language

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a medicalized condition that exists on a continuum of postpartum mood disorders. PPD is reported to be experienced by 10-15% of mothers and 10% of fathers during pregnancy or after the birth of a baby. PPD, as experienced by either parent, is considered a serious condition because of its potential short-and long-term negative impacts on the developing child.In this thesis I explore how motherhood and fatherhood are constructed in the context of articles on maternal and paternal PPD in Canadian and American newspapers. Specifically, Ifocus on how references to the opposite partner were used to position each parent, and how each parent was positioned with respect to the new baby.In the articles on maternal PPD, husbands were either inconsequential to the story, positioned as being absent, or constructed as supporting the mother through instrumental and action-oriented behaviours. In addition, mothers were constructed as lonely and isolated because of self-imposed limitations (e.g., feeling ashamed for not being happy).In the articles on paternal PPD, the mother-father relationship was based on differences and competition. Fathers were constructed as isolated, lonely and misunderstood, most often through mother-blaming, such as by positioning the mother as responsible for the father's wellbeing (e.g., causing his PPD), and by labelling PPD "a woman's domain." Fathers' loneliness was presented as being due to imposed limitations of others (e.g., others did not properly prepare fathers for fatherhood).Mothering was constructed as being instinctually skilled, tolerant, and self-sacrificing, with the inherent capability to manage multiple roles and changes. The mother-baby relationship was constructed as naturally joyful, all-important and -consuming. Fathers were not expected to be as skilled or instinctively prepared and tolerant, to engage in chores/childcare, or to be explicitly overjoyed with the baby. Mothers were blamed for their distress in the role, while others were blamed for fathers' distresses.Gendered stereotypes in the parenting role were perpetuated in these newspaper articles.Parenthood was not constructed as a collaboration, but rather motherhood and fatherhood stood in isolation from each other, with motherhood positioned as the primary role. These constructions continue to maintain fathers in the background of parenthood as an "other," and to position mothers as responsible for the well-being of her partner, child(ren) and herself.iv Acknowledgements First and foremost, I recognize that I probably would not be here if it was not for the upbringing and unconditional support of my mom (Anna), dad (Steve) and sister (Catherine).My other half, Ben, was also a blessed angel who kept me grounded and sane! All of them kept me going, not only with their encouragement, but also with their excitement.

show abstract

A qualitative study of depressive symptoms and well‐being among first‐time mothers

Cited by 57 publications

References 30 publications

A Longitudinal Study on Motherhood and Well-Being: Developmental and Clinical Implications

A Longitudinal Study on Motherhood and Well-Being: Developmental and Clinical Implications

New mothers’ struggles to love their child. An interpretative synthesis of qualitative studies

Constructions of motherhood and fatherhood in newspaper articles on maternal and paternal postpartum depression

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About