Prenatal Planning and Breastfeeding: Buffering Postpartum Depression Through Positive Affect
Ana Catala1, Cecilia Peñacoba2, Patricia Catalá2
1Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain.
Brain Sciences
|June 26, 2025
Summary
Prenatal planning may reduce postpartum depression symptoms through positive affect, especially for mothers breastfeeding less than six months. This emotional benefit appears less pronounced with longer breastfeeding durations.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Maternal Mental Health
- Psychology
Background:
- Maternal mental health is crucial during the postpartum period.
- Understanding factors influencing postpartum depression is essential.
- Prenatal planning's role in maternal well-being requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate a moderated mediation model linking prenatal planning to postpartum depression.
- To examine the mediating role of positive affect.
- To assess the moderating effect of breastfeeding duration on this association.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study with 117 postpartum mothers.
- Self-report questionnaires assessing pregnancy planning, positive affect, postpartum depression, and breastfeeding duration.
- Bootstrap analyses to evaluate conditional indirect effects.
Main Results:
- An indirect association was found between pregnancy planning and postpartum depression via positive affect.
- This association was significant only for mothers breastfeeding less than six months.
- No significant indirect effects were observed for mothers breastfeeding longer than six months.
Conclusions:
- Positive affect may mediate the relationship between prenatal planning and maternal well-being.
- Breastfeeding duration appears to moderate this pathway.
- Further longitudinal research is needed to establish causality.
Keywords:
breastfeeding durationmaternal mental healthpositive affectpostpartum depressionprenatal planningMore Related Videos
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