Adverse Childhood Experiences and Current Psychosocial Stressors: Exploring Effects on Mental Health and Parenting Outcomes from a Mother–Baby Partial Hospital Program

Factors Associated with Postpartum Maternal Functioning in Black Women: A Secondary Analysis

“…In this study, Black women who had a high school education/GED or less had higher levels of maternal functioning in comparison to those with post-secondary education, a finding that has been found in a previous study examining maternal functioning levels of minoritized and marginalized women [ 21 ]. The Black cultural phenomenon Sojourner Syndrome may provide insight into this seemingly counterintuitive relationship.…”

“…In qualitative interviews, Black women reported that social support, their child’s temperament, self-care, maintaining a life and identity outside of being a mother, and firsthand experience parenting influenced their adjustment to motherhood [ 20 ]. Maternal functioning abilities have been inversely (and significantly) associated with the emotional symptoms of anxiety [ 21 ], depression [ 22 , 23 ] in Black postpartum women. Further, previous studies presented correlations between maternal functioning abilities and sociodemographic characteristics that seem counterintuitive.…”

“…Further, previous studies presented correlations between maternal functioning abilities and sociodemographic characteristics that seem counterintuitive. For instance, unpartnered Black women with lower levels of education reported higher maternal functioning abilities in comparison to partnered Black women with higher levels of education [ 21 ]. In several studies, single women reported higher levels of functioning in comparison to partnered or married women [ 21 , 22 ].…”

“…For instance, unpartnered Black women with lower levels of education reported higher maternal functioning abilities in comparison to partnered Black women with higher levels of education [ 21 ]. In several studies, single women reported higher levels of functioning in comparison to partnered or married women [ 21 , 22 ]. Additionally, maternal functioning was found to decrease as women’s age increased [ 13 ], yet was higher in those with government-funded health insurance in comparison to those with employer-sponsored health insurance [ 6 ]; the samples from these studies were described as White or non-White, so it is unclear if these findings were evident in Black women.…”