title: Testing a Conceptual Model of Postpartum Depressive Symptoms in the First Year.
abstract: Postpartum depressive symptoms (PPDS) are likely to have a multifactorial etiology. The relationships among identified PPDS risk factors, however, remain inconclusive. A vulnerability-stress conceptualization of PPDS was tested with a sample of 144 U.S. mothers aged 18-46 years, who had given birth in the last 12 months. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Dysfunctional Attitude Scale Form A-17, Parenting Sense of Competence Scale, and Quality of Relationships Inventory were completed. The conceptual model and three alternative models were tested using structural equation modeling. A variation of the conceptual model yielded the best fit, χ(2) (98) = 133.541, p = .0099, Standardized Root Mean Residual (SRMR) = 0.071, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) = 0.050 (90% CI = 0.026-0.070), Tucker Lewis Index (TLI) = 0.953, Comparative Fix Index (CFI) = 0.961. Dependency and partner conflict were positively related to PPDS, while maternal-efficacy was negatively related to PPDS. Dependency moderated the relationship between maternal-efficacy and PPDS, so that this relationship was stronger for mothers with higher dependency than for those with lower dependency. Dependency, partner conflict, and maternal-efficacy should be considered when building interventions that target the wellbeing of mothers in the first year after birth.
authors.affiliation: a Child & Family Psychiatry Department , Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center , Oakland , California , USA.
authors.forename: Silva
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hassert
authors.forename: Sharon E Robinson
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Kurpius
authors.forename: Terence J G
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Tracey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009034:Mother-Child Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: depressive symptoms; motherhood; postpartum