Self-compassion and postpartum depression in mothers: A meta-analysis
DOI:
Abstract Views:
64 times
PDF Downloads:
31 times
Abstract
Purpose: The aim of this study was to provide evidence on a strong relationship between self-compassion and postpartum depression. In addition, it was also to synthesize evidence of the application of population, intervention, comparison, and outcome (PICO) procedures quantitatively. Previous researches demonstrated that low self-compassion was a significant factor in postpartum mothers experiencing psychological distress. This is due to a lack of understanding and appreciation on the positive aspects of oneself that leads to the onset of postpartum depression.
Method: This study used a meta-analysis with a statistical method that combined the results of several studies on a specific research question. A meta-analysis provides a comprehensive summary of all evidence related to the topic that employed to more accurate and reliable conclusions than only from a single study. The researchers conducted a comprehensive search for databases, include Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Proquest from February 2023 to July 2023.
Result: A total of nine articles were identified for inclusion in the review from 3320 articles. The analysis using the DerSinomian and Laird (DL) estimator model resulted an estimated effect size of 0.586 (p < 0.001; 95% CI = -0.668 - -0.504). Although the meta-analysis results showed a strong negative correlation between the variables, heterogeneity and the risk of publication bias must be considered.
Conclusion: The meta-analysis of self-compassion and postpartum depression variables indicates a negative correlation with a moderate effect size category. It is in accordance with the findings of nine articles that also demonstrated a negative correlation.
Downloads
References
Andrei, A. M., Webb, R., & Enea, V. (2023). Self-criticism and self-compassion as mediators of the relationship between alexithymia and postpartum depressive symptoms. Psihologija, 56(2), 145–162. https://doi.org/10.2298/PSI220422002A
Britton, J. R. (2011). Infant temperament and maternal anxiety and depressed mood in the early postpartum period. Women and Health, 51(1), 55–71. https://doi.org/10.1080/03630242.2011.540741
Carona, C., Xavier, S., Canavarro, M. C., & Fonseca, A. (2022). Self-compassion and complete perinatal mental health in women at high risk for postpartum depression: The mediating role of emotion regulation difficulties. Psychology and Psychotherapy, 95(2), 561–574. https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.12388
Chen, J., Farah, N., Dong, R. K., Chen, R. Z., Xu, W., Yin, J., Chen, B. Z., Delios, A. Y., Miller, S., Wan, X., Ye, W., & Zhang, S. X. (2021). Mental Health during the COVID-19 Crisis in Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(20). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182010604
Clare, C. A., & Yeh, J. (2012). Postpartum depression in special populations: a review. Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey, 67(5), 313–323. https://doi.org/10.1097/OGX.0b013e318259cb52
Comtois, K. A., Schiff, M. A., & Grossman, D. C. (2008). Psychiatric risk factors associated with postpartum suicide attempt in Washington State, 1992-2001. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 199(2), 120.e1-120.e5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2008.02.011
Cree, M. (2016). The compassionate mind approach to postnatal depression: using compassion focused therapy to enhance mood, confidence and bonding.
Dagher, R. K., & Shenassa, E. D. (2012). Prenatal health behaviors and postpartum depression: Is there an association? Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 15(1), 31–37. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-011-0252-0
Egger, M., & Smith, G. D. (1997). Meta-Analysis. Potentials and promise. BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.), 315(7119), 1371–1374. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.315.7119.1371
Feeney, J. A. (2003). Adult Attachment, Involvement in Infant Care, and Adjustment to New Parenthood. In Journal of Systemic Therapies (Vol. 22, Issue 2).
Felder, J. N., Lemon, E., Shea, K., Kripke, K., & Dimidjian, S. (2016). Role of self-compassion in psychological well-being among perinatal women. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 19(4), 687–690. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-016-0628-2
Fernandes, D. V., Canavarro, M. C., & Moreira, H. (2023). Self-compassion and mindful parenting among postpartum mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of depressive and anxious symptoms. Current Psychology, 42(21), 17560–17572. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-02959-6
Fonseca, A., & Canavarro, M. C. (2018). Exploring the paths between dysfunctional attitudes towards motherhood and postpartum depressive symptoms: The moderating role of self-compassion. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 25(1), e96–e106. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2145
Gavin, N. I., Gaynes, B. N., Lohr, K. N., Meltzer-Brody, S., Gartlehner, G., & Swinson, T. (2005). Perinatal depression: A systematic review of prevalence and incidence. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 106(5 Pt 1), 1071–1083. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.AOG.0000183597.31630.db
Goodman, S. H., Rouse, M. H., Connell, A. M., Broth, M. R., Hall, C. M., & Heyward, D. (2011). Maternal depression and child psychopathology: A meta-analytic review. In Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review (Vol. 14, Issue 1, pp. 1–27). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-010-0080-1
Higgins, J., Thomas, J., Chandle, J., Cumpstoon, M., Li, T., & Page, M. (2023). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions version 6.4 (updated August 2023) (V. Welch, Ed.; version 6.4). www.training.cochrane.org/handbook.
Krieger, T., Altenstein, D., Baettig, I., Doerig, N., & Holtforth, M. G. (2013). Self-compassion in depression: Associations with depressive symptoms, rumination, and avoidance in depressed outpatients. Behavior Therapy, 44(3), 501–513. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2013.04.004
Luhmann, M. H. W. E. M. L. R. E. (2012). Supplemental material for subjective well-being and adaptation to life events: A meta-analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0025948.supp
Lupien, S. J., McEwen, B. S., Gunnar, M. R., & Heim, C. (2009). Effects of stress throughout the lifespan on the brain, behaviour and cognition. In Nature Reviews Neuroscience (Vol. 10, Issue 6, pp. 434–445). Nature Publishing Group. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn2639
Monteiro, F., Fonseca, A., Pereira, M., Alves, S., & Canavarro, M. C. (2019). What protects at-risk postpartum women from developing depressive and anxiety symptoms? The role of acceptance-focused processes and self-compassion. Journal of Affective Disorders, 246, 522–529. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2018.12.124
Neff, K. (2003). Self-Compassion: An Alternative Conceptualization of a Healthy Attitude Toward Oneself. Self and Identity, 2(2), 85–101. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298860309032
Neff, K. D. (2012). Chapter 6: The Science of Self-Compassion.
Nelson, A. M. (2003). Transition to motherhood. In Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNN / NAACOG (Vol. 32, Issue 4, pp. 465–477). https://doi.org/10.1177/0884217503255199
Nha HONG, Q., Pluye, P., Fàbregues, S., Bartlett, G., Boardman, F., Cargo, M., Dagenais, P., Gagnon, M.-P., Griffiths, F., Nicolau, B., Rousseau, M.-C., & Vedel, I. (2018). MIXED METHODS APPRAISAL TOOL (MMAT) VERSION 2018 User guide. http://mixedmethodsappraisaltoolpublic.pbworks.com/
Norhayati, M. N., Nik Hazlina, N. H., Asrenee, A. R., & Wan Emilin, W. M. A. (2015). Magnitude and risk factors for postpartum symptoms: A literature review. In Journal of Affective Disorders (Vol. 175, pp. 34–52). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2014.12.041
O’Boyle-Finnegan, Ú., Graham, C. D., Doherty, N., & Adair, P. (2022). Exploring the contribution of psychological flexibility processes and self-compassion to depression, anxiety and adjustment in parents of preterm infants. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 24, 149–159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2022.05.002
Oh, H.-J., & Kim, S.-S. (2022). Effects of Parenting Stress, Sleep Quality, Self-Compassion and Family Relationship on Mothers’ Postpartum Depression. Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing, 29(2), 150–158. https://doi.org/10.7739/jkafn.2022.29.2.150
O’Hara, M. W., & Mc Cabe, J. E. (2013). Postpartum depression: Current status and future directions. In Annual Review of Clinical Psychology (Vol. 9, pp. 379–407). https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-050212-185612
Ouzzani, M., Hammady, H., Fedorowicz, Z., & Elmagarmid, A. (2016). Rayyan-a web and mobile app for systematic reviews. Systematic Reviews, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-016-0384-4
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., … Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. In The BMJ (Vol. 372). BMJ Publishing Group. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71
Pedro, L., Branquinho, M., Canavarro, M. C., & Fonseca, A. (2019). Self-criticism, negative automatic thoughts and postpartum depressive symptoms: the buffering effect of self-compassion. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 37(5), 539–553. https://doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2019.1597969
Psychogiou, L., Legge, K., Parry, E., Mann, J., Nath, S., Ford, T., & Kuyken, W. (2016). Self-Compassion and Parenting in Mothers and Fathers with Depression. Mindfulness, 7(4), 896–908. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-016-0528-6
Saleh, A. S. E. M. (2020). Acceptance-focused processes and self-compassion protect pregnant women from developing postpartum depressive and anxiety symptoms and improve relationships with health caregivers. In Evidence-Based Nursing (Vol. 23, Issue 1, p. 26). BMJ Publishing Group. https://doi.org/10.1136/ebnurs-2019-103081
Shorey, S., Chee, C. Y. I., Ng, E. D., Chan, Y. H., Tam, W. W. S., & Chong, Y. S. (2018). Prevalence and incidence of postpartum depression among healthy mothers: A systematic review and meta-analysis. In Journal of Psychiatric Research (Vol. 104, pp. 235–248). Elsevier Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2018.08.001
Tavares, L. R., Vagos, P., & Xavier, A. (2023). The role of self-compassion in the psychological (mal)adjustment of older adults: a scoping review. In International Psychogeriatrics (Vol. 35, Issue 4, pp. 179–192). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610220001222
Temel, M., & Atalay, A. A. (2020). The relationship between perceived maternal parenting and psychological distress: Mediator role of self-compassion. Current Psychology, 39(6), 2203–2210. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-018-9904-9
Wang, Z., Liu, J., Shuai, H., Cai, Z., Fu, X., Liu, Y., Xiao, X., Zhang, W., Krabbendam, E., Liu, S., Liu, Z., Li, Z., & Yang, B. X. (2021). Mapping global prevalence of depression among postpartum women. Translational Psychiatry, 11(1), 543. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-021-01663-6
Whittingham, K., & Mitchell, A. E. (2023). Postnatal traumatic symptoms and shame: A cross-sectional study examining the role of birth, breastfeeding, psychological flexibility and self-compassion. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2023.04.004
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
