Postpartum Depression - Effects On The Parent-infant Relationship

Effects On The Parent-infant Relationship

Postpartum depression may lead mothers to be inconsistent with childcare. Women diagnosed with postpartum depression often focus more on the negative events of childcare, resulting in poor coping strategies (Murray).

There are four groups of coping methods, each divided into a different style of coping subgroups. Avoidance coping is one of the most common strategies used (Murray). It consists of denial and behavioral disengagement subgroups (for example, an avoidant mother might not respond to her baby crying). This strategy however, does not resolve any problems and ends up negatively impacting the mother’s mood, similarly of the other coping strategies used (Honey).

Four coping strategies:

• Avoidance coping: denial, behavioral disengagement
• Problem-focused coping: active coping, planning, positive reframing
• Support seeking coping: emotional support, instrumental support
• Venting coping: venting, self-blame