Do dysfunctional cognitions mediate the relationship between risk factors and postnatal depression symptomatology?

This study investigated the mediating role of general and maternal-specific dysfunctional cognitions, in the relationship between non-cognitive risk factors and postnatal depressive symptomatology. An Australian community sample comprising 406 postnatal women responded to the Dysfunctional Attitude...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Journal of affective disorders Vol. 87; no. 1; pp. 65 - 72
Main Authors:	Church, Nicole F., Brechman-Toussaint, Margaret L., Hine, Donald W.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01-07-2005 Elsevier
Subjects:	Adolescent Adult Adult and adolescent clinical studies Biological and medical sciences Cognition Disorders - complications Depression Depression, Postpartum - etiology Depression, Postpartum - psychology Dysfunctional general cognitions Dysfunctional maternal cognitions Female Humans Medical sciences Middle Aged Mood disorders Path analysis Personality Inventory Postnatal depression Pregnancy Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry Psychopathology. Psychiatry Risk Factors Vulnerable personality Path analysis Dysfunctional maternal cognitions Dysfunctional general cognitions Vulnerable personality Postnatal depression Mood disorder Human Depression Cognition Personality Vulnerability Puerperium Symptomatology Risk factor Female
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Summary:	This study investigated the mediating role of general and maternal-specific dysfunctional cognitions, in the relationship between non-cognitive risk factors and postnatal depressive symptomatology. An Australian community sample comprising 406 postnatal women responded to the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS), the Maternal Attitudes Questionnaire (MAQ), the Vulnerable Personality Style Questionnaire (VPSQ) and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). They also responded to several questions related to perinatal and postnatal experiences. Path analysis demonstrated that different mediational pathways operated for different risk factors. The relationship between having a difficult baby and postnatal depression was fully mediated by maternal-specific dysfunctional cognitions (MAQ scores), whereas the relationship between past history of depression and postnatal depression was partially mediated by general dysfunctional cognitions (DAS scores). Finally, the relationship between a vulnerable personality and depressive symptomatology was mediated by both DAS and MAQ scores. The study employed a correlational design. Thus, all inferences regarding possible causal pathways are tentative. In addition, the generalisability of these findings to other populations needs to be demonstrated in future research. The results of the study are consistent with the view that risk factors may influence postnatal depression indirectly through at least two distinct cognitive mediators (dysfunctional maternal and general cognitions). It may be possible to target therapies more effectively by identifying the relevant mediating mechanism(s) for individuals with different risk profiles.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	0165-0327 1573-2517
DOI:	10.1016/j.jad.2005.03.009