Maternal crying and postpartum distress: the moderating role of partner support

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate maternal crying as a signal of distress and request for support in the postpartum period. Background: The development of postpartum mental illness may be prevented if spouses can recognise their partner’s distress and respond supportively. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of primiparous mothers (N =137) was conducted to determine whether partner support moderates the association between maternal crying frequency and postpartum depression, anxiety and stress symptom severity. Results: Regression analyses indicated that, as hypothesised, women who reported more frequent crying and low partner support reported higher levels of depression. Conversely, women who reported frequent crying in the context of high partner support reported lower levels of depression symptoms. The expected moderation effect was not present in the analyses examining postpartum anxiety and stress symptoms as outcome variables. Conclusion: In keeping with the well-established finding that partner support is a protective factor for postpartum mood problems, the results indicated that the presence of a supportive partner moderates the association between crying and depression.

Keywords:

• Adult crying
• depression
• mothers
• partner support
• postpartum

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the nurses and staff who generously assisted with recruitment. Namely, the staff of the Mercy O’Connell Family Centre and the Queen Elizabeth Centre; and the Maternal and Child Health Centres of the following Melbourne Councils: Boroondara, Darebin, Knox, Melbourne City, Moonee Ponds, Moreland, Stonnington, Whitehorse and Yarra. The authors acknowledge the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development for providing permission to conduct research in Victorian early childhood settings. Thank you to Louise Cotton and Kate McGeorge for assisting with data collection.

Additional information

Funding

P.D. Pilkington was funded by an Australian Postgraduate Award. The funding source had no role in the study design; in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the paper for publication.