Loss, happiness and postpartum depression: The ultimate paradox.

Nicolson, Paula

doi:10.1037/h0086834

Cited by 116 publications

(135 citation statements)

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“…The media can perpetuate, resist or change public constructions of various events and people. Clearly, societal assumptions, expectations and ideologies are, at least in part, responsible for parent distress and PPD (e.g., Nicolson, 1990Nicolson, , 1999Nicolson, , 2003Solantaus & Salo, 2005). Only by being aware of these discourses can change be implemented.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…How one interprets events is intimately influenced by the historical and current cultural context within which one lives (Burr, 1995;Fairclough, 1995Fairclough, /2010Willig, 2001). Rather than PPD being medicalized and constructed as something is wrong with a mother, Nicolson (1990Nicolson ( , 1999 argued that it should be viewed as a normal reaction to grieving the loss of the stability and familiarity of a mother's "old life," and indicative of the transition and growth into a new one. Women's experiences need to be validated, not just normalized (Knudson-Martin & Silverstein, 2009).…”

Section: Causal Theoriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, many women experience a paradox, whereby they want to care for their child or be happy to have the child, yet, at the same time, are sad, distressed, and grieving for so many losses (Knudson-Martin & Silverstein, 2009;Nicolson, 1999).…”

Section: Causal Theoriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Constructions of motherhood and fatherhood in newspaper articles on maternal and paternal postpartum depression

Alexander

McMullen

2015

GENL

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Postpartum depression (PPD) is a medicalized condition that exists on a continuum of postpartum mood disorders. PPD is reported to be experienced by 10-15% of mothers and 10% of fathers during pregnancy or after the birth of a baby. PPD, as experienced by either parent, is considered a serious condition because of its potential short-and long-term negative impacts on the developing child.In this thesis I explore how motherhood and fatherhood are constructed in the context of articles on maternal and paternal PPD in Canadian and American newspapers. Specifically, Ifocus on how references to the opposite partner were used to position each parent, and how each parent was positioned with respect to the new baby.In the articles on maternal PPD, husbands were either inconsequential to the story, positioned as being absent, or constructed as supporting the mother through instrumental and action-oriented behaviours. In addition, mothers were constructed as lonely and isolated because of self-imposed limitations (e.g., feeling ashamed for not being happy).In the articles on paternal PPD, the mother-father relationship was based on differences and competition. Fathers were constructed as isolated, lonely and misunderstood, most often through mother-blaming, such as by positioning the mother as responsible for the father's wellbeing (e.g., causing his PPD), and by labelling PPD "a woman's domain." Fathers' loneliness was presented as being due to imposed limitations of others (e.g., others did not properly prepare fathers for fatherhood).Mothering was constructed as being instinctually skilled, tolerant, and self-sacrificing, with the inherent capability to manage multiple roles and changes. The mother-baby relationship was constructed as naturally joyful, all-important and -consuming. Fathers were not expected to be as skilled or instinctively prepared and tolerant, to engage in chores/childcare, or to be explicitly overjoyed with the baby. Mothers were blamed for their distress in the role, while others were blamed for fathers' distresses.Gendered stereotypes in the parenting role were perpetuated in these newspaper articles.Parenthood was not constructed as a collaboration, but rather motherhood and fatherhood stood in isolation from each other, with motherhood positioned as the primary role. These constructions continue to maintain fathers in the background of parenthood as an "other," and to position mothers as responsible for the well-being of her partner, child(ren) and herself.iv Acknowledgements First and foremost, I recognize that I probably would not be here if it was not for the upbringing and unconditional support of my mom (Anna), dad (Steve) and sister (Catherine).My other half, Ben, was also a blessed angel who kept me grounded and sane! All of them kept me going, not only with their encouragement, but also with their excitement.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Causal Theoriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Constructions of motherhood and fatherhood in newspaper articles on maternal and paternal postpartum depression

Alexander

McMullen

2015

GENL

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“…Moreover, in the arena of health psychology, feminist research has covered a rich body of critical examination, including the study of sexual health, menstruation, infertility, reproductive technologies, and more recently -pregnancy and childbirth, motherhood and mothering, postnatal depression and other topics related to mothering issues (Abbey & O'Reilly, 1998;Chodorow, 1999;Hays, 1996;Nicolson, 1990Nicolson, , 1999O'Reilly, 2008O'Reilly, , 2012Oakley, Hickey, Rajan, & Rigby, 1996;Rich, 1995;Ussher, 2006;Mauthner, 2010;Choi et al, 2005).…”

Section: Feminist Methodologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The good woman and the good mother have been conceptualized within a very narrow cultural message which women take on, prioritizing relationships, relinquishing their own needs for the sake of others (e.g., children, family, social context, work, etc.) in a selfless and self-sacrificing way (Mauthner, 2010;Lafrance & Stoppard, 2006;Nicolson, 1999;Jack, 1993). This cultural message has profound implications for the way women construct their understandings of what it means to mother in a good way.…”

Section: The Good Mother Ideologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“I am the worst pregnant woman ever”: A mixed-method study of the nature of psychological distress during pregnancy

Staneva¹

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Pregnancy constitutes a major life event that confronts women with unique physical, social, economic and psychological adjustments. Epidemiological evidence suggests that the prevalence and severity of most common mental health disorders (such as depressive and anxiety disorders) during pregnancy are not different from those in the population of non-pregnant women. However, the mental health state of pregnant women has received considerable clinical and scientific attention because of its suggested influence on the pregnancy outcome, the baby, and the future child. There is emerging evidence that experiencing antenatal distress may lead to suboptimal birth, adverse birth outcome, This thesis begins with an outline of the research problem and sets the scene by providing the theoretical and methodological assumptions that underlie the design and the conduct of this thesis. In introducing this work, I argue that it is important to draw from a mixed-methodology scholarship grounded in feminism and critical realism to ensure a multi-faceted understanding of such complex phenomena as pregnancy and distress. I then position my research within a background of the existing literature, and pinpoint the gaps which this thesis aims to address. Starting with an epidemiological systematic review, I explore the link between antenatal distress and preterm birth, followed by a meta-synthesis of the qualitative literature that has examined the experience of antenatal distress. First, Isuggest that direct causal relationships between antenatal distress and adverse birth outcomes cannot be established in a conclusive way, and secondly I argue that such assumptions can be problematic for women as the experiences of antenatal distress involve a complex journey. I then suggest that pregnancy distress entails a process similar to that of iii grief and loss as a result of women's inability to situate their experience within the good and perfect mother discourse.The empirical section of this thesis draws on data I collected both via an online survey and through interviews and is presented in three consecutive studies. The online survey, which was completed by over 290 eligible pregnant women from Australia and New Zealand, consisted of various psychosocial questionnaires administered at three time points (twice during pregnancy and once after birth). This longitudinal data formed the basis for the first empirical study which explored the psychosocial predictors of antenatal distress. In this study I conclude that it is a woman's overall sense of coherence that predetermines her distress during pregnancy. In order to advance the understanding of the meanings that women ascribed to their experience, and how these affected their 'at odds' perceptions of motherhood, I then present the findings from a qualitative study with 18Australian women who reported pregnancy distress. Together, these studies point to the need to develop a more general framework for understanding antenatal distress allowing for factors such as global sense of fi...

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Reflexivity, ‘Bias’ and the in‐Depth Interview: Developing Shared Meanings

Nicolson¹

2003

Reflexivity

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Loss, happiness and postpartum depression: The ultimate paradox.

Cited by 116 publications

References 28 publications

Constructions of motherhood and fatherhood in newspaper articles on maternal and paternal postpartum depression

Constructions of motherhood and fatherhood in newspaper articles on maternal and paternal postpartum depression

“I am the worst pregnant woman ever”: A mixed-method study of the nature of psychological distress during pregnancy

Reflexivity, ‘Bias’ and the in‐Depth Interview: Developing Shared Meanings

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