Self-criticism and self-compassion as mediators of the relationship between alexithymia and postpartum depressive symptoms

Abstract

Postpartum depression (PPD) is common after birth and can have a profound effect on women and their families. It is therefore important to understand the conditions and factors that lead to the occurrence and maintenance of PPD. The first aim of the current study was to identify whether there is a relationship between alexithymia and postpartum depressive symptoms (PPDS) in a sample of Romanian mothers. The second aim was to explore whether self-criticism and self-compassion mediate the relationship between alexithymia and PPDS. The current cross-sectional study included 307 mothers with babies aged between four weeks and one year. The results show that alexithymia, self-compassion, self-criticism, PPDS all correlated with one another, and self-criticism, self-compassion and alexithymia are significant predictors of PPDS. Moreover, self-criticism and self-compassion mediated the relationship between alexithymia and PPDS. A psychological therapy that increases self-compassion and reduces alexithymia and self-criticism may be beneficial for preventing symptoms of PPD.

Depression in the Perinatal Period: Course and Outcome of Depression in the Period from the Last Trimester of Pregnancy to One Year after Delivery in Primiparous Mothers

“…The BAI consists of 21 items to which the respondent answers on a scale from 0 to 3, which are added together, where 0 means that the respondent does not have a specific symptom, and three means that the symptom is very pronounced. Based on the BAI, the level of anxiety can be expressed as mild (0-21), moderate (22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35), or severe anxiety (>35). The BAI is a frequently used instrument in daily clinical practice, takes 5 min to administer, and is intended for persons ≥18 years of age [22].…”

“…Additional variables have been found to mediate this relationship—self-criticism and self-compassion. Thus, psychological therapy that increases self-compassion and reduces self-criticism and alexithymia may be useful in preventing symptoms of postnatal depression [ 34 ]. In our study, a significant risk factor for new-onset depression was suicidality in the family and the absence of an emotional partner.…”