Abstract
Background: First-time mothers commonly experience stress and depressive symptoms in the postpartum period. Maternal self-efficacy has been shown to be an important protective factor against these experiences; however, research on the dynamic nature of stress, depressive symptoms, and maternal self-efficacy is limited. The aim of this study was to document changes in these psychological factors among first-time mothers, and determine how early maternal self-efficacy perceptions may predict change in stress and depressive symptoms over the first 6 months postpartum. Methods: Sixty first-time Australian mothers were recruited during their third trimester of pregnancy. Participants completed a baseline survey during the third trimester of pregnancy (M = 32.87 weeks, SD = 2.62 weeks), and subsequently reported stress, depressive symptoms, and maternal self-efficacy every 3 weeks postpartum for 6 months. Latent growth curve modelling was used to estimate participants’ change over time for stress and depressive symptoms. Results: First-time mothers’ stress and depressive symptoms peaked, and maternal self-efficacy was weakest, at 3 weeks postpartum. Maternal self-efficacy at 3 weeks postpartum was a significant (negative) predictor of 3-week levels of, and also (positively) predicted later reductions in, stress. Conclusion: Future interventions aimed at bolstering early maternal self-efficacy may protect against postpartum stress for first-time mothers.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 126-147 |
| Number of pages | 22 |
| Journal | Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Mar 2019 |
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Stress, Depressive Symptoms, and Maternal Self-Efficacy in First-Time Mothers : Modelling and Predicting Change across the First Six Months of Motherhood. / Law, Kwok Hong; Dimmock, James; Guelfi, Kym J.; Nguyen, Thinh; Gucciardi, Daniel; Jackson, Ben.
In: Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, Vol. 11, No. 1, 01.03.2019, p. 126-147.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Stress, Depressive Symptoms, and Maternal Self-Efficacy in First-Time Mothers
T2 - Modelling and Predicting Change across the First Six Months of Motherhood
AU - Law, Kwok Hong
AU - Dimmock, James
AU - Guelfi, Kym J.
AU - Nguyen, Thinh
AU - Gucciardi, Daniel
AU - Jackson, Ben
PY - 2019/3/1
Y1 - 2019/3/1
N2 - Background: First-time mothers commonly experience stress and depressive symptoms in the postpartum period. Maternal self-efficacy has been shown to be an important protective factor against these experiences; however, research on the dynamic nature of stress, depressive symptoms, and maternal self-efficacy is limited. The aim of this study was to document changes in these psychological factors among first-time mothers, and determine how early maternal self-efficacy perceptions may predict change in stress and depressive symptoms over the first 6 months postpartum. Methods: Sixty first-time Australian mothers were recruited during their third trimester of pregnancy. Participants completed a baseline survey during the third trimester of pregnancy (M = 32.87 weeks, SD = 2.62 weeks), and subsequently reported stress, depressive symptoms, and maternal self-efficacy every 3 weeks postpartum for 6 months. Latent growth curve modelling was used to estimate participants’ change over time for stress and depressive symptoms. Results: First-time mothers’ stress and depressive symptoms peaked, and maternal self-efficacy was weakest, at 3 weeks postpartum. Maternal self-efficacy at 3 weeks postpartum was a significant (negative) predictor of 3-week levels of, and also (positively) predicted later reductions in, stress. Conclusion: Future interventions aimed at bolstering early maternal self-efficacy may protect against postpartum stress for first-time mothers.
AB - Background: First-time mothers commonly experience stress and depressive symptoms in the postpartum period. Maternal self-efficacy has been shown to be an important protective factor against these experiences; however, research on the dynamic nature of stress, depressive symptoms, and maternal self-efficacy is limited. The aim of this study was to document changes in these psychological factors among first-time mothers, and determine how early maternal self-efficacy perceptions may predict change in stress and depressive symptoms over the first 6 months postpartum. Methods: Sixty first-time Australian mothers were recruited during their third trimester of pregnancy. Participants completed a baseline survey during the third trimester of pregnancy (M = 32.87 weeks, SD = 2.62 weeks), and subsequently reported stress, depressive symptoms, and maternal self-efficacy every 3 weeks postpartum for 6 months. Latent growth curve modelling was used to estimate participants’ change over time for stress and depressive symptoms. Results: First-time mothers’ stress and depressive symptoms peaked, and maternal self-efficacy was weakest, at 3 weeks postpartum. Maternal self-efficacy at 3 weeks postpartum was a significant (negative) predictor of 3-week levels of, and also (positively) predicted later reductions in, stress. Conclusion: Future interventions aimed at bolstering early maternal self-efficacy may protect against postpartum stress for first-time mothers.
KW - anxiety
KW - community health
KW - maternal health
KW - mental health
KW - psychological distress
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85055293660&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/aphw.12147
DO - 10.1111/aphw.12147
M3 - Article
VL - 11
SP - 126
EP - 147
JO - Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being
JF - Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being
SN - 1758-0846
IS - 1
ER -