Enhancing Maternal Mental Health of Women in Perinatal Period and the Role of Nurses in Promoting Emotional Wellbeing

There is a paucity of research exploring how relationships with household pets may impact maternal mental health. We are unaware of any study to date that has examined associations between individuals’ relationships with their pets and psychological adjustment in the perinatal period. Using a biobehavioral lens, this paper provides a narrative overview of the literature on perinatal mental health and human–animal interaction (HAI). We focus on the role of social relationships, stress, and stress reduction in relation to perinatal mental health; the role of HAI in perceptions of social support, stressors, and stress reduction; and gaps in empirical knowledge concerning the role of HAI in perinatal mental health. Finally, we integrate contemporary biobehavioral models of perinatal mental health and HAI (i.e., Comprehensive Model of Mental Health during the Perinatal Period and the HAI–HPA Transactional Model) to propose a new conceptual framework that depicts ways in which HAI during the perinatal period may influence maternal and child health and wellbeing. To our knowledge, this is the first paper to consider the role of HAI in biobehavioral responses and mental health during the perinatal period. We conclude with recommendations for future research and improved perinatal care.

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Postpartum Psychosis: Risk factors and Management

10.52803/21410ibo ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ousman Bajinka

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Maternal Mental Health ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Perinatal Period ◽

Health Impact ◽

Postpartum Psychosis ◽

Specialist Care ◽

Puerperal Psychosis

Following childbirth, with a psychosis and associated mood disturbance, Postpartum Psychosis (PPP) is studied to be a severe mental health condition. PPP affects 1 to 2 per 1000 women among the psychiatric emergency. To curb this severe disorder, acute clinical intervention is warranted. Maternal mental health problems with a focus on depression as the condition with the biggest public health impact should be the way forward. This review is set to look into the risk factors, prevention and management of PPP. Both the acute onset and recurrence of psychiatric illness are common during the perinatal period as women are more vulnerable during this period. Timely detection and effective management of perinatal psychiatric disorders are critical for managing PPP. Part of the management strategies for women who experience PPP is to seek guidance on further pregnancies and risk of illness. Since PPP is a disturbing complication of childbirth that carries high risks for both mother and child, if one is at high risk of developing puerperal psychosis, there is the need for a specialist care during pregnancy and be seen by a psychiatrist.

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Maternal mental health and child problem behaviours: disentangling the role of depression and borderline personality dysfunction

BJPsych Open ◽

10.1192/bjpo.bp.117.005843 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 3 (6) ◽

pp. 300-305 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Fay Huntley ◽

Nicola Wright ◽

Andrew Pickles ◽

Helen Sharp ◽

Jonathan Hill

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Maternal Depression ◽

Maternal Mental Health ◽

Population Sample ◽

Borderline Personality ◽

General Population Sample ◽

Problem Behaviours ◽

Personality Dysfunction ◽

In Pregnancy

BackgroundIt is not known whether associations between child problem behaviours and maternal depression can be accounted for by comorbid borderline personality disorder (BPD) dysfunction.AimTo examine the contributions of maternal depression and BPD symptoms to child problem behaviours.MethodDepression trajectories over the fist-year postpartum were generated using repeated measurement from a general population sample of 997 mothers recruited in pregnancy. In a stratified subsample of 251, maternal depression and BPD symptoms were examined as predictors of child problem behaviours at 2.5 years.ResultsChild problem behaviours were predicted by a high maternal depression trajectory prior to the inclusion of BPD symptoms. This association was no longer significant after the introduction of BPD symptoms.ConclusionsRisks for child problem behaviours currently attributed to maternal depression may arise from more persistent and pervasive difficulties found in borderline personality dysfunction.

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Maternal mental health and role of nurse

Indian Journal of Psychiatric Nursing ◽

10.4103/iopn.iopn_16_19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 49

Author(s):

Sandhya Gupta

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Maternal Mental Health

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Impact of maternal adverse childhood experiences on child socioemotional function in rural Kenya: Mediating role of maternal mental health

Developmental Science ◽

10.1111/desc.12833 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. e12833 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Amber D. Rieder ◽

Sophia L. Roth ◽

Christine Musyimi ◽

David Ndetei ◽

Roberto B. Sassi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽

Maternal Mental Health ◽

Childhood Experiences ◽

Mediating Role ◽

Adverse Childhood ◽

Rural Kenya

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Associations of Maternal-Infant Bonding with Maternal Mental Health, Infant’s Characteristics and Socio-Demographical Variables in the Early Postpartum Period: A Cross-Sectional Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18168517 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (16) ◽

pp. 8517

Author(s):

Łucja Bieleninik ◽

Karolina Lutkiewicz ◽

Mariusz Cieślak ◽

Joanna Preis-Orlikowska ◽

Mariola Bidzan

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Maternal Stress ◽

Maternal Mental Health ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Significant Relationships ◽

Early Postpartum ◽

Postpartum Bonding ◽

The Impact

(1) Background: There is a continuing discussion concerning the impact of preterm birth on Maternal-Infant bonding with inconsistent results. The large burden of preterm births calls for research to evaluate the impact of it on material psychological outcome in the early postpartum period. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between maternal postpartum bonding with maternal mental health, socio-demographical factors, and child’s characteristics. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used. In total, 72 women (a mean age of 31.44 years old) of preterm infants (mean gestational age = 33.54; range 24–36) filled out socio-demographic questionnaires, Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ), Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS), Postpartum Depression Screening Scale (PDSS), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-7), and Parental Stress Scale (PSS) 1–3 days post-delivery; (3) Results: The results analyses have shown positive correlations between the overall result of maternal postpartum bonding with stress (p < 0.01), maternal educational level (p < 0.01), maternal age (p < 0.05) and the number of children (p < 0.01). However, there were no significant relationships between other investigated variables. The results of linear regression have revelated the important role of the overall scores in experience of stress among mothers (explaining 49% of the variability). The mediating role of maternal stress on maternal postpartum bonding was not found. That relationship of maternal postpartum bonding and maternal stress was not moderated through socio-demographic variables. (4) Conclusions: In this study mothers of prematurely born children had a good level of Maternal-Infant bonding. Maternal stress was found to be a predictor of maternal postpartum bonding among the tested variables. Surprisingly, the study results did not show significant relationships between maternal postpartum bonding and maternal mental health (depression and anxiety).

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The role of pregnancy acceptability in maternal mental health and bonding during pregnancy

10.21203/rs.3.rs-498664/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Josephine McNamara ◽

Alixandra Risi ◽

Amy L. Bird ◽

Michelle L. Townsend ◽

Jane S. Herbert

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Mental Health ◽

Maternal Mental Health ◽

Self Report ◽

Physical Quality ◽

Moderation Model ◽

Important Time ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Background Pregnancy is an important time for women’s mental health and marks the foundations of the emerging bond between mother and baby. This study aimed to investigate the role of pregnancy acceptability and intendedness in maternal mental health and bonding during pregnancy. Methods Data were collected from a sample of 116 Australian pregnant women through a series of self-report questionnaires pertaining to mental health and antenatal bonding. Results Women with low pregnancy acceptability reported higher depression, anxiety and total distress, and lower antenatal bonding, physical and environmental quality of life. Women who reported their pregnancy was intended reported higher physical quality of life than those who reported their pregnancy was unintended. The relationship between total distress and antenatal bonding was moderated by women’s degree of pregnancy acceptability (low versus high). For women with low acceptability, higher distress was associated with lower bonding, but there was no such association for women with high pregnancy acceptability. The moderation model examining associations between distress and pregnancy acceptability explained 15% of the variance in antenatal bonding scores. Conclusion Consideration of women’s appraisal of their pregnancy acceptability may provide a valuable framework for identifying individuals who may be at risk for mental health and bonding difficulties.

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Best practices in perinatal mental health for mothers with severe mental illness

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/s0924-9338(18)30073-7 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 41 (S1) ◽

pp. 911-911

Author(s):

L. Howard

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Decision Making ◽

Mental Illness ◽

Best Practices ◽

Perinatal Period ◽

Current Evidence ◽

Pharmacological Treatments ◽

Profound Impact ◽

Competing Interest

Perinatal mental disorders are common and can have a profound impact on women and their families. This session will briefly review the epidemiology of disorders in the perinatal period and current evidence on pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments. The role of the psychiatrist in helping women in their decision-making on treatment will be discussed.Disclosure of interestThe author has not supplied his declaration of competing interest.

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