Maternal expectations and postpartum emotional adjustment in first-time mothers: results of a questionnaire survey

Abstract

Objective: Several predictors of postpartum mood have been identified in the literature, but the role of maternal expectations in postpartum mental health remains unclear. The aim of this study was to identify whether maternal expectations during the postpartum hospital stay predict adjustment and depressive symptoms at 6 weeks postpartum.

Methods: The sample included 233 first-time mothers recruited from the postpartum unit of a Midwestern hospital. Participants completed measures of maternal expectations and depressive symptoms (EPDS) at Time 1 (2 d postpartum) and completed EPDS and an Emotional Adjustment Scale (BaM-13) at Time 2 (6 weeks postpartum).

Results: A conditional relationship between the expectation that an infant’s behavior will reflect maternal skill and Time 2 outcomes (BaM-13 and EPDS) was found, such that endorsing this belief predicted increased depression and poorer adjustment in those with higher (but not lower) Time 1 EPDS scores. Time 2 BaM-13 scores were also negatively predicted by expectations of self-sacrifice and positively predicted by expectations that parenthood would be naturally fulfilling.

Conclusions: The expectations that new mothers hold about parenting soon after delivery are predictive of emotional adjustment in the early postpartum period, suggesting a role for discussion of expectations in future preventive strategies.

• Depression
• mental health
• perinatal mental health
• post-natal depression
• psychological wellbeing

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Linda Newhouse and Marie Cooper of Riverside Methodist Hospital for their assistance in the collection of this research data. We also would like to thank Michael Brady, PhD, for his assistance with the data analysis for this article.