Year: 2013
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: ABSTRACT \nObjectives: Research into postpartum psychopathology has focused largely on \ndepression and only more recently has it been recognised that postnatal anxiety \nrequires its own systematic research. As yet, only a limited number of studies have \ninvestigated interpersonal risk factors in relation to postnatal anxiety. This study \naimed to further investigate the role of these factors by using a prospective design \nand standardised measures. Attachment theory is presented as a theoretical \nframework. It has been debated whether anxiety symptoms in the postpartum should \nbe understood as a feature of postnatal depression, or as a separate clinical entity. \nThis study used the DASS-21, a measure with good discriminant validity, to enable \ncomparison of the risk factors in relation to depression and anxiety symptomatology. \nDesign: Using a prospective design, 81 women were assessed in the third trimester \nof pregnancy and at approximately 12 weeks postpartum. At Time 1 participants \ncompleted measures of social support, relationship satisfaction, adult attachment \nanxiety, and experiences of parents in childhood. At Time 2 postnatal anxiety and \ndepression symptomatology was assessed. \nResults: Significant associations were found between postnatal anxiety \nsymptomatology and the majority of the interpersonal variables. In regression \nanalyses these explained 12% of the variance in postnatal anxiety symptomatology. \nA similar pattern of associations was found for postnatal depression \nsymptomatology, but only 6% of the variance in scores was explained. \niii \nConclusions: Despite limitations, this study provides preliminary evidence of the \ncontribution of interpersonal risk factors to the development of postnatal anxiety \nsymptomatology, and support for the attachment theory perspective. This indicates \nthe potential importance of interventions that focus on interpersonal relationships. A \nlow rate of comorbidity with depression symptomatology, and differences in the \nregression models, appear to support the view of postnatal anxiety and depression as \nbeing distinct but closely related. Further research is needed with more \nrepresentative samples.
Author: Elisabeth Felter
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W816237643