The Mother–Offspring Conflict: The Association Between Maternal Sleep, Postpartum Depression, and Interbirth Interval Length

To test the hypothesis that infant night waking is an adaptation to increase interbirth intervals (IBIs) (i.e., the time between a mother’s consecutive births) by exhausting the mother, we made an initial attempt at investigating whether maternal sleep disturbance is associated with longer IBIs. We also explored whether postpartum depression symptoms mediated the association between maternal sleep disturbance and IBI length. We used retrospective self-reports from 729 mothers living in Finland. We conducted structural regressions separately for the mother’s two first children at two different age intervals (0–1 and 1–3 years). Infant night waking was associated with maternal sleep disturbance (β = .78–.84) and maternal sleep disturbance was associated with postpartum depression symptoms (β = .69–.81). Postpartum depression symptoms were also associated with longer IBIs for the first child (β = .23–.28). This result supports the notion that postpartum depression in and of itself could be viewed as adaptive for the offspring’s fitness, and not just as an unintentional byproduct of the mother’s sleep disturbance. Contrary to our prediction, maternal sleep disturbance was, however, associated with shorter IBIs for the first child (β = −.22 to −.30) when including postpartum depression symptoms in the model. We discuss the potential role of social support as an explanation for this unexpected result.

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Postpartum Depression and Mother-offspring Conflict over Maternal Investment

10.31234/osf.io/ajxps ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Annika Gunst ◽

My Sundén ◽

Riikka Korja ◽

Amy Boddy ◽

Jennifer Kotler ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Postpartum Depression ◽

Sleep Disturbance ◽

Maternal Investment ◽

Well Being ◽

Human Reproduction ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Maternal Sleep ◽

Survey Responses ◽

Night Waking

Background and objectives: As the mother-offspring relationship is central to human reproduction, postpartum depression symptoms are difficult to explain in evolutionary terms. We proposed that postpartum depression might arise as a result of evolutionary mother-offspring conflict over maternal investment, and investigated the association between postpartum depression symptoms, infant night waking, maternal sleep disturbance and breastfeeding frequency. Methodology: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using survey responses at six months postpartum from 1598 Finnish mothers. We hypothesized that infant night waking at six months postpartum would be associated with postpartum depression symptoms, and that this association would be mediated by maternal sleep disturbance and a higher breastfeeding frequency.Results: Infant night waking was moderately associated with postpartum depression symptoms, and this association was mediated by maternal sleep disturbance (R2 = .09). Contrary to our prediction, we found that increased breastfeeding was associated with less postpartum depression symptoms. Conclusions and implications: We conclude that postpartum depression symptoms might partly be the result of increased maternal fatigue stemming from high offspring demands on maternal investment, but that this is not due to the metabolic strain from increased breastfeeding. Studying postpartum depression from the mother-offspring conflict perspective can potentially improve our understanding of the involved behavioral processes of both mother and offspring, and allow interventions designed to benefit the well-being of both parties.

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Postpartum Depression and Mother-offspring Conflict over Maternal Investment

Evolution Medicine and Public Health ◽

10.1093/emph/eoaa049 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Annika Gunst ◽

My Sundén ◽

Riikka Korja ◽

Amy M Boddy ◽

Jennifer Kotler ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Postpartum Depression ◽

Sleep Disturbance ◽

Maternal Investment ◽

Well Being ◽

Human Reproduction ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Maternal Sleep ◽

Survey Responses ◽

Night Waking

Structured Abstract Background and objectives As the mother-offspring relationship is central to human reproduction, postpartum depression symptoms are difficult to explain in evolutionary terms. We proposed that postpartum depression might arise as a result of evolutionary mother-offspring conflict over maternal investment, and investigated the association between postpartum depression symptoms, infant night waking, maternal sleep disturbance and breastfeeding frequency. Methodology We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using survey responses at six months postpartum from 1598 Finnish mothers. We hypothesized that infant night waking at six months postpartum would be associated with postpartum depression symptoms, and that this association would be mediated by maternal sleep disturbance and a higher breastfeeding frequency. Results Infant night waking was moderately associated with postpartum depression symptoms, and this association was mediated by maternal sleep disturbance (R2 = .09). Contrary to our prediction, we found that increased breastfeeding was associated with less postpartum depression symptoms. Conclusions and implications We conclude that postpartum depression symptoms might partly be the result of increased maternal fatigue stemming from high offspring demands on maternal investment, but that this is not due to the metabolic strain from increased breastfeeding. Studying postpartum depression from the mother-offspring conflict perspective can potentially improve our understanding of the involved behavioral processes of both mother and offspring, and allow interventions designed to benefit the well-being of both parties.

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Are Three Items Sufficient to Measure Sense of Coherence?

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759/a000337 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 34 (4) ◽

pp. 229-237 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Francesca Chiesi ◽

Andrea Bonacchi ◽

Caterina Primi ◽

Alessandro Toccafondi ◽

Guido Miccinesi

Keyword(s):

Sense Of Coherence ◽

Convergent Validity ◽

Clinical Sample ◽

Clinical Samples ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Time Saving ◽

Positive Role ◽

Patients With Cancer ◽

Measure Sense

Abstract. The present study aimed at evaluating if the three-item sense of coherence (SOC) scale developed by Lundberg and Nystrom Peck (1995) can be effectively used for research purpose in both nonclinical and clinical samples. To provide evidence that it represents adequately the measured construct we tested its validity in a nonclinical (N = 658) and clinical sample (N = 764 patients with cancer). Results obtained in the nonclinical sample attested a positive relation of SOC – as measured by the three-item SOC scale – with Antonovsky’s 13-item and 29-item SOC scales (convergent validity), and with dispositional optimism, sense of mastery, anxiety, and depression symptoms (concurrent validity). Results obtained in the clinical sample confirmed the criterion validity of the scale attesting the positive role of SOC – as measured by the three-item SOC scale – on the person’s capacity to respond to illness and treatment. The current study provides evidence that the three-item SOC scale is a valid, low-loading, and time-saving instrument for research purposes on large sample.

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Supplemental Material for High Resolution Examination of the Role of Sleep Disturbance in Predicting Functioning and Psychotic Symptoms in Schizophrenia: A Novel Experience Sampling Study

Journal of Abnormal Psychology ◽

10.1037/abn0000180.supp ◽

2016 ◽

Keyword(s):

High Resolution ◽

Sleep Disturbance ◽

Experience Sampling ◽

Psychotic Symptoms

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Everybody Needs to Feel Safe: the Aversive Role of Shame Feelings and Self-critical Attitudes on Depression Symptoms

10.26226/morressier.5a7070ded462b80290b56642 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Ana Laura Mendes

Keyword(s):

Depression Symptoms

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Exclusive Breastfeeding Moderates the Association Between Prenatal and Postpartum Depression

Journal of Human Lactation ◽

10.1177/0890334421991051 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 089033442199105

Author(s):

Bárbara Figueiredo ◽

Tiago Miguel Pinto ◽

Raquel Costa

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Mental Health ◽

Postpartum Depression ◽

Exclusive Breastfeeding ◽

Maternal Mental Health ◽

Prenatal Depression ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Public Health Services ◽

Wide Range ◽

Prospective Longitudinal

Background Exclusive breastfeeding has a wide range of benefits for maternal health. However, the benefit of exclusive breastfeeding for maternal mental health needs to be further explored. Research Aim To determine the moderating role of exclusive breastfeeding at 3 months on the association between prenatal and postpartum depression. Methods This study had a prospective, longitudinal, and comparative design with two groups and three assessment waves. The sample comprised 334 participants (70 depressed and 264 non-depressed) recruited at public health services in northern Portugal. Participants completed a measure of depression symptoms between the second and the third trimester of pregnancy and between 3 and 6 months, and a measure of breastfeeding status at 3 months. Results Exclusive breastfeeding at 3 months moderated the association between prenatal and postpartum depression. Participants with prenatal depression who were exclusively breastfeeding at 3 months showed fewer symptoms of depression and lower rates of depression between 3 and 6 months postpartum, compared to participants with prenatal depression who were not exclusively breastfeeding. Participants without prenatal depression who were exclusively breastfeeding at 3 months showed similar depression symptoms and similar rates of depression between 3 and 6 months postpartum, compared to participants without prenatal depression who were not exclusively breastfeeding. Conclusion Exclusive breastfeeding has a potential protective influence on postpartum depression among women with prenatal depression. Public health policies targeting women with prenatal depression should be implemented and include practices to promote and support exclusive breastfeeding in order to enhance women’s exclusive breastfeeding and mental health.

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Postpartum depression symptoms in survey-based research: a structural equation analysis

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-020-09999-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Che Wan Jasimah Bt Wan Mohamed Radzi ◽

Hashem Salarzadeh Jenatabadi ◽

Nadia Samsudin

Keyword(s):

Postpartum Depression ◽

Latent Variable ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Postpartum Women ◽

Unhealthy Food ◽

High Level

Abstract Background Since the last decade, postpartum depression (PPD) has been recognized as a significant public health problem, and several factors have been linked to PPD. Mothers at risk are rarely undetected and underdiagnosed. Our study aims to determine the factors leading to symptoms of depression using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis. In this research, we introduced a new framework for postpartum depression modeling for women. Methods We structured the model of this research to take into consideration the Malaysian culture in particular. A total of 387 postpartum women have completed the questionnaire. The symptoms of postpartum depression were examined using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and they act as a dependent variable in this research model. Results Four hundred fifty mothers were invited to participate in this research. 86% of the total distributed questionnaire received feedback. The majority of 79.6% of respondents were having depression symptoms. The highest coefficients of factor loading analysis obtained in every latent variable indicator were income (β = 0.77), screen time (β = 0.83), chips (β = 0.85), and anxiety (β = 0.88). Lifestyle, unhealthy food, and BMI variables were directly affected by the dependent variable. Based on the output, respondents with a high level of depression symptoms tended to consume more unhealthy food and had a high level of body mass indexes (BMI). The highest significant impact on depression level among postpartum women was unhealthy food consumption. Based on our model, the findings indicated that 76% of the variances stemmed from a variety of factors: socio-demographics, lifestyle, healthy food, unhealthy food, and BMI. The strength of the exogenous and endogenous variables in this research framework is strong. Conclusion The prevalence of postpartum women with depression symptoms in this study is considerably high. It is, therefore, imperative that postpartum women seek medical help to prevent postpartum depressive symptoms from worsening.

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