Vulnerability to Postpartum Depressive Symptomatology: Dependency, Self-Criticism and the Moderating Role of Antenatal Attachment
Abstract
A prospective study of self-criticism and dependency as vulnerability factors to postpartum depressive symptoms in a non-clinical sample is presented. Prospective mother's attachment to the unborn baby was hypothesized to moderate the effects of the personality vulnerability factors on depression. Seventy-three first pregnancy subjects were assessed during the third trimester of pregnancy and 8 weeks postpartum. Controlling for Time 1 depression, findings support the assumption that self-criticism measured at Time 1 predicted postpartum depression. In addition, antenatal attachment scores were found to moderate this personality vulnerability: highly self-critical subjects' risk for depression was lowered if they became strongly attached to the fetus during pregnancy. Dependency was not found to be associated with postpartum depressive symptoms. Results are analyzed in the framework of Blatt's theory of depression and underscore the interaction between personality vulnerabilities and cultural aspects of childbirth and maternal role.
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It has been suggested that higher maternal fetal attachment serves as a moderator in those vulnerable to depression.
“It has also been suggested that higher maternal fetal attachment serves as a moderator in those vulnerable to depression”
From Prenatal Depression in Women Hospitalized for Obstetric Risk (2008) · cites this paper as [37]
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CURRICULUM VITAE and LIST OF PUBLICATIONS
Avi Besser, A. (2010)
Research Progress on Maternal-Fetus Attachment
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- Authors
- Priel, B., & Besser, A.
- Affiliations
- Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (IL)
- Venue
- Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology
- Publisher
- Guilford Publications
- Published
- 1999-06
- Volume
- 18
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 240-253
- ISSN
- 0736-7236 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1997806521
- Cited by
- 88
- References
- 7
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 4 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 3.93
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
- Keywords
- postpartum depression, self-criticism, dependency, prenatal attachment, fetal attachment, personality vulnerability, moderating effect, first pregnancy, maternal role
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