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Birth-Related Experiences and Postpartum Depression: The Protective Role of Self-Compassion
Helena Moreira1, Colin R Martin2
1Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive and Behavioral Intervention, University of Coimbra.
Background:
The experience of childbirth can significantly impact the well-being and mental health of postpartum women, potentially contributing to the development of postpartum depression (PPD) symptoms. Identifying modifiable factors that can protect women's mental health in the postpartum period is critical to devise more tailored interventions for this period. This study aims to investigate how self-compassion moderates the relationship between birth satisfaction levels, type of birth, and early skin-to-skin contact (SSC) in women's PPD symptoms.
Methods:
A total of 987 postpartum women completed an online survey assessing sociodemographic and obstetric variables, birth satisfaction, self-compassion, and postpartum depression symptoms. On average, women were 31.98 years old (SD = 4.36), and their babies were 2.48 months old (SD = 1.24; range = 0-5).
Results:
Higher levels of PPD symptoms were significantly correlated with lower birth satisfaction, having a caesarian delivery, and not engaging in SSC after birth. Moderation analyses indicated that PPD symptom levels were not significantly associated with delivery type at average and higher levels of self-compassion and were not significantly associated with birth satisfaction at higher levels of self-compassion.
Discussion:
Self-compassion appears to play an important buffering role in women's mental health during the postpartum period. Moderation findings suggest that average and higher levels of self-compassion may attenuate the negative effects of a cesarean delivery and lower birth satisfaction on PPD symptom levels. These findings suggest that psychological interventions targeting postpartum mental health or PPD may benefit from incorporating strategies aimed at fostering self-compassion.
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