Relationship between postpartum depression and maternal perceptions about ethnotheories and childrearing practices

Abstract

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a mood disorder which can adaptively alter maternal socialisation strategies. Our objective was to investigate differences in ethnotheories and childrearing practices of mothers with low (N = 46) and high (N = 45) intensity of PPD. The Brazilian version of Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was applied at 3, 8 and 36 months. Scales concerning socialisation goals, childrearing beliefs and practices were administered at 36 months. Mothers of both groups did not differ regarding socialisation goals, but they differed concerning childrearing beliefs and practices. High-intensity PPD mothers scored less on interdependent and autonomous beliefs and also on autonomous childrearing practices. Therefore, maternal perceptions about ethnotheories and childrearing practices are ways of cognition which can be modulated by PPD. PPD would affect perceptions about more costly cares that require exclusive attention (autonomous) to further affect perceptions about less costly cares that require shared attention (interdependent).

Keywords:

• postpartum depression
• maternal investment
• parental expectations
• childrearing practices

Acknowledgement

The present study is based on data of a longitudinal project that gave rise to the doctoral dissertation of the first author and other previously published reports.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Renata P. Defelipe received her Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from the University of São Paulo. She is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Department of Psychology at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. She is working at the University Centre for Study and Research in Child Development. Her researches are about maternal psychopathology, parental care, and child development.

Vera Silvia Raad Bussab received her Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from the University of São Paulo. She is currently a Full Professor at the Department of Experimental Psychology at the University of São Paulo. She is coordinating the University Ethology Laboratory. Her researches are about child development, attachment, psychopathology, sexual and reproductive strategies, attractiveness, discounting of the future, and evolution of artistic propensities.

Mauro Luís Vieira received his Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from the University of São Paulo. He was then a postdoctoral fellow at Dalhousie University and the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. He is currently a Full Professor at the Department of Psychology at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. He is coordinating the University Centre for Study and Research in Child Development. His researches are about parental care and child development.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by São Paulo Research Foundation and National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development.