Postpartum Depression: Deconstructing the Label Through a Social Constructionist Lens

Shaikh, Arshi; Kauppi, Carol

doi:10.1080/15332985.2014.943456

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Friðrika learned through her experience with breastfeeding that ‘the mother’s mental health is more important than whether the child is fed formula or breastmilk’, and Sara decided that she couldn’t go on like this ‘without going insane’. Even though the medical label ‘postnatal depression’ has been criticized for lacking any clear definition (Oakley, 2005), and from a social constructionist standpoint, criticized for being constructed as a medical condition instead of a ‘social problem rooted in socioeconomic disadvantages, gender inequality and cultural ideals regarding motherhood’ (Shaikh & Kauppi, 2015, p. 475), it has nevertheless become part of the medical discourse for new mothers and well known as such to most, if not all women. The women can therefore challenge the discourse on bonding through breastfeeding by contradicting it with another discourse that proclaims that new mothers are in a vulnerable emotional state that should be kept in check, in order for mother and child to bond.…”

Section: Challenges Opposition and Counter-discourses On Breastfeedingmentioning

confidence: 99%

When breast is not best: Opposing dominant discourses on breastfeeding

Símonardóttir

Gíslason

2018

The Sociological Review

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Dominant discourses on breastfeeding as the optimal feeding method for infants and a way for mother and child to develop a strong bond are widely promoted and the message of ‘breast is best’ has been internalized by mothers around the world. Breastfeeding rates in Iceland and the other Nordic countries are among the highest in the world and the cultural and societal expectations for women to successfully breastfeed are therefore very high, as breastfeeding represents a strong moral and social norm. Iceland is considered a model for gender equality and feminism and this article thus examines the experiences of women who have struggled with breastfeeding, in a context which strongly promotes both breastfeeding and gender equality. By analysing the narratives of 77 Icelandic women, this article extends theorizing about rhetorical agency and resistance by demonstrating how they oppose and challenge dominant discourses on breastfeeding and good mothering and what counter-discourses they draw upon in order to make sense of their experiences. The findings indicate that feminism and feminist rhetoric have been unsuccessful in addressing and providing women with counter-discourses that challenge the highly gendered and oppressive elements of infant feeding and its link to idealized versions of motherhood.

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Section: Challenges Opposition and Counter-discourses On Breastfeedingmentioning

confidence: 99%

When breast is not best: Opposing dominant discourses on breastfeeding

Símonardóttir

Gíslason

2018

The Sociological Review

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“…Although mothers expressed that biological mechanisms could cause depression and a diagnosis provided a sense of reprieve, it is important to understand how social experiences may offer insight into causes ( Gammell & Stoppard, 1999 ). Shaikh and Kauppi (2015) described the importance of being open to many different biological to socio-political explanations of PPD, and recommended that we “need to honour the interpretations of clients, counter the hegemonic influence of the medical model and provide services that align with clients’ worldviews” (p. 475). Furthermore, when implementing a medical linear treatment pathway, there is a risk that contextual causes of PPD may not be recognized ( Montgomery et al, 2006 ; Schreiber & Hartrick, 2002 ), resulting in a limited understanding of the experience, contributing to difficulty in healing.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Listening to the Voices of Mothers Who Participated in a Video Feedback Intervention for Postpartum Depression

Bon Bernard,

Moules,

Tough

et al. 2024

Global Qualitative Nursing Research

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Postpartum depression (PPD) symptoms can negatively influence mother-infant interactions. Video-Feedback Interaction Guidance for Improving Interactions Between Depressed Mothers and their Infants (VID-KIDS) is a parenting intervention that allows mothers experiencing PPD symptoms to observe and improve their interactions with their infants. VID-KIDS has also positively influenced infants’ stress (cortisol) patterns. There is limited research on maternal perspectives of interventions like VID-KIDS. In this hermeneutic study, four mothers were interviewed to increase understanding of the VID-KIDS experience. Key findings included: 1) VID-KIDS provided an opportunity for mothers with PPD symptoms to positively transform their identity; 2) VID-KIDS provided a chance to witness the mother-infant relationship forming and improve maternal mental health t, and; 3) VID-KIDS provided a space for mothers to dialogue about their experience with PPD symptoms authentically. VID-KIDS promoted healing from PPD as mothers experienced a transformation in how they perceived themselves and their relationships with their infants.

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“…Previous research has suggested that women of ethnic minority backgrounds in the UK may consider professional assistance less appropriate for the treatment of perinatal depression [75]. In this instance, ethnic minority women were found to be less likely to install a mobile application for the self-report of wellbeing and depression in pregnancy.…”

Section: Extending Care To Under-served and At-risk Groupsmentioning

confidence: 87%

Engagement with Mental Health Screening on Mobile Devices

Doherty

Belisario

Cohn

et al. 2019

Proceedings of the 2019 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

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Perinatal depression (PND) affects up to 15% of women within the United Kingdom and has a lasting impact on a woman's quality of life, birth outcomes and her child's development. Suicide is the leading cause of maternal mortality. However, it is estimated that at least 50% of PND cases go undiagnosed. This paper presents the results of the first feasibility study to examine the potential of mobile devices to engage women in antenatal mental health screening. Using a mobile application, 254 women attending 14 National Health Service midwifery clinics provided 2,280 momentary and retrospective reports of their wellbeing over a 9-month period. Women spoke positively of the experience, installing and engaging with this technology regardless of age, education, wellbeing, number of children, marital or employment status, or past diagnosis of depression. 39 women reported a risk of depression, self-harm or suicide; two-thirds of whom were not identified by screening in-clinic.

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Postpartum Depression: Deconstructing the Label Through a Social Constructionist Lens

Cited by 7 publications

References 46 publications

When breast is not best: Opposing dominant discourses on breastfeeding

When breast is not best: Opposing dominant discourses on breastfeeding

Listening to the Voices of Mothers Who Participated in a Video Feedback Intervention for Postpartum Depression

Engagement with Mental Health Screening on Mobile Devices

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