Kwok Hong Law1, Ben Jackson2, Kym Guelfi2, Thinh Nguyen3, James Alexander Dimmock2. 1. Faculty of Science, School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Australia. Electronic address: brian.law@research.uwa.edu.au. 2. Faculty of Science, School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Australia. 3. Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Australia; Peel and Rockingham Kwinana Mental Health Service, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Numerous factors have been shown to cause (or alleviate) maternal psychological distress in the early postpartum period, and a variety of interventions have been developed with the goal of preventing and/or managing such distress. However, only a few studies have explored new mothers' perspectives on the sources of their distress in the first six months' postpartum alongside the researchers' recommendations for interventions to address those sources. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this work was to (a) identify factors associated with normative psychological distress in the first 6-months' postpartum by healthy Australian first-time mothers, and (b) outline practical methods-rooted in those factors-deemed to be effective for preventing maternal psychological distress. METHOD: Semi-structured interviews with 32 first-time mothers and thematic content analysis. RESULTS: Factors associated with maternal psychological distress emerged in relation to cognitive, behavioural, baby, and social factors. Mothers also indicated that interventions targeting reductions in psychological distress should include education-for mothers and significant others-prior to the postpartum period. These interventions should be delivered by credible information sources (e.g. other mothers, child-health nurses) and should focus on confidence-enhancement and social support provision. CONCLUSION: As well as reinforcing evidence regarding common postpartum stressors, this study revealed novel insight into issues associated with normative psychological distress for new mothers (e.g., self-compassion). Perhaps most significant was that mothers also identified a range of clear practical strategies for community-based intervention designs that target psychological distress. As a result, these findings provide guidelines for interventions aimed at reducing psychological distress in the early postpartum period for Australian mothers.
BACKGROUND: Numerous factors have been shown to cause (or alleviate) maternal psychological distress in the early postpartum period, and a variety of interventions have been developed with the goal of preventing and/or managing such distress. However, only a few studies have explored new mothers' perspectives on the sources of their distress in the first six months' postpartum alongside the researchers' recommendations for interventions to address those sources. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this work was to (a) identify factors associated with normative psychological distress in the first 6-months' postpartum by healthy Australian first-time mothers, and (b) outline practical methods-rooted in those factors-deemed to be effective for preventing maternal psychological distress. METHOD: Semi-structured interviews with 32 first-time mothers and thematic content analysis. RESULTS: Factors associated with maternal psychological distress emerged in relation to cognitive, behavioural, baby, and social factors. Mothers also indicated that interventions targeting reductions in psychological distress should include education-for mothers and significant others-prior to the postpartum period. These interventions should be delivered by credible information sources (e.g. other mothers, child-health nurses) and should focus on confidence-enhancement and social support provision. CONCLUSION: As well as reinforcing evidence regarding common postpartum stressors, this study revealed novel insight into issues associated with normative psychological distress for new mothers (e.g., self-compassion). Perhaps most significant was that mothers also identified a range of clear practical strategies for community-based intervention designs that target psychological distress. As a result, these findings provide guidelines for interventions aimed at reducing psychological distress in the early postpartum period for Australian mothers.
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