Predictors of Infant Care Competence Among Mothers With Postpartum Depression

Abstract

Background/objective:Postpartum depression is linked to decreased quality mother-infant interactions and long-term negative impacts on children’s behavior and health. Infant care competence may be reduced by postpartum depression and other maternal or environmental variables. Thus, the objective of this study was to explain factors that contribute to perceived infant care competence among mothers with postpartum depression.Methods:Multiple regression analysis and correlational analysis were conducted to study associations between the predictors (depression severity, social support, child development, family functioning) and the outcome of perceived infant care competence among a peer support intervention study for mothers with postpartum depression (n = 55).Results:Child development, specifically communication (P = .04), gross (P = .00) and fine (P = .00) motor skills, problem solving (P = .00), and personal-social development (P = .01), explained maternal perceptions of responsiveness, an aspect of infant care competence. The best-fit model was obtained for the responsiveness subscale, in which 37% of the variance was explained by mothers’ reports of infants’ fine motor skills (P = .000) and nurturance (P = .039) as an aspect of social support and family functioning (P = .078).Conclusions:Recognition of the importance of infant development to perceived infant care competence, particularly mothers’ perceptions of infant responsiveness, may offer targets for intervention. Helping mothers identify infant cues and milestones that signal infant responsiveness may be beneficial. Moreover, social support and family functioning may be targets for intervention to promote perceived infant care competence in mothers affected by postpartum depression.

The effect of maternal depression symptoms on the outcomes of infant care

“…Similar to our study, it is reported in the literature that mothers' competence to give care to the infant, sensitivity to their infant, affection and confidence, and health monitoring and search behaviors to protect the infants' health are negatively affected by PPD. 9,[11][12][13] Due to the increase in the rate of divorce and the transition from the traditional extended family to the nuclear family in Turkish society, 27 the decrease in social support systems of mothers and increase in burden on them can cause difficulties in baby care today.…”

“…However, PPD has an impact on infant care activities that affect infant growth such as breastfeeding duration, sleep pattern, early transition to solid foods, and physical activity stimulation 9,10 . At the same time, the typical symptoms of depression, such as loss of concentration, sleep problems, and lack of appetite, are encountered as risk factors in PPD, negatively affecting the competency of the mother to provide care for the infant 11,12 . It is also stated that mothers with PPD may be adversely affected in terms of infant care and care adequacy, as they may be less sensitive to the cues shown by their infants than mothers without PPD 11 .…”

“…9,10 At the same time, the typical symptoms of depression, such as loss of concentration, sleep problems, and lack of appetite, are encountered as risk factors in PPD, negatively affecting the competency of the mother to provide care for the infant. 11,12 It is also stated that mothers with PPD may be adversely affected in terms of infant care and care adequacy, as they may be less sensitive to the cues shown by their infants than mothers without PPD. 11 Infants of mothers who have PPD problems have more difficulty in cognitive, social, emotional, and language development in the future.…”

“…11,12 It is also stated that mothers with PPD may be adversely affected in terms of infant care and care adequacy, as they may be less sensitive to the cues shown by their infants than mothers without PPD. 11 Infants of mothers who have PPD problems have more difficulty in cognitive, social, emotional, and language development in the future. 13,14 Untreated PPD adversely affects the ability to care for the infant as a result of increased hostility, negative interactions, poor responsiveness, and poor communication.…”

Maternal Interaction With Infants Among Women at Elevated Risk for Postpartum Depression

“…Postpartum depression (PPD) occurs in approximately 13% of women ( Bauman et al, 2020 ) and is associated (concurrently and prospectively) with adverse psychological and developmental functioning in children ( Stein et al, 2014 ; Weiss and Leung, 2021 ). Efforts to understand why or how PPD is linked to offspring functioning suggest the salience of interactions between mothers and their infants in mediating outcomes ( Murray et al, 2015 ; Jones et al, 2019 ; Goodman et al, 2020 ; Pelham et al, 2021 ). The qualities of mothers’ interactions with their infants can be reliably and validly measured with observational coding or rating ( Tryphonopoulos et al, 2016 ; Bornstein et al, 2020 ).…”