Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 14, 2025

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants
Published on: June 13, 2021
Mediating effect of resilience during pregnancy on the association between maternal trait anger and postnatal
Hiromi Tobe1, Sachiko Kita1, Mayu Hayashi1
1Department of Family Nursing, Division of Health Sciences & Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; Department of Health Quality and Outcome Research, Global Nursing Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Objective:
The association between anger and postnatal depression has been reported in previous studies. However, whether this association is mediated by resilience is unknown. Resilience is a dynamic process of individuals' positive adaptation to stress and adversity. This study investigated the mediating effect of resilience during pregnancy on the association between trait anger during pregnancy and postnatal depression at one-month.
Methods:
A longitudinal study from the third trimester to one-month postnatal using online self-report questionnaires was conducted in two maternity clinics in Tokyo. Trait anger and resilience during pregnancy and postnatal depression at one-month were measured by the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory, resilience test, and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. To test the hypothesis, Structural Equation Modeling was used.
Results:
Data of 531 participants were analyzed. The final Structural Equation Modeling model demonstrated that resilience during pregnancy had a partial mediating effect on the association between trait anger during pregnancy and postnatal depression at one-month. Trait anger was significantly associated with resilience during pregnancy (β = -0.28) and postnatal depression (β = 0.24). Resilience during pregnancy was significantly associated with postnatal depression (β = -0.20).
Conclusions:
This study demonstrated that resilience during pregnancy had a partial mediating effect on the association between trait anger during pregnancy and postnatal depression at one-month. The findings highlight the importance of identifying pregnant women with high trait anger and providing interventions to enhance their resilience to decrease the risk of postnatal depression.
Related Concept Videos
Socioemotional Development during Infancy
Primary Temperament Types
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques II
Type A Personality: Driven and Easily Stressed
Individuals with Type A personalities are often highly competitive and ambitious and operate with a strong sense of urgency. Commonly labeled as...
Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle
Stress and Mental Health
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Human Genetics
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
Regression Toward the Mean

