Rumination decreases parental problem-solving effectiveness in dysphoric postnatal mothers

Abstract

Rumination may be a key mechanism associated with both depressive mood and maternal parenting quality during the postnatal period.

Rumination in dysphoric mothers negatively affects mother–infant interactions

“…That these effects were present regardless of the level of maternal depressive symptoms suggests that rumination may be a key target in preventative and treatment interventions aimed at improving the mother–infant relationship. The results of this study are in contrast to previous studies which have found a negative effect of rumination on parenting related behaviours only in the context of low (O'Mahen, Boyd, & Gashe, ) or anxious mood (Stein et al., ). We suggest that the difference in the findings from this study are due to the type of induction we used; namely, a self‐relevant task that focused on difficulties meeting an important goal.…”

The more things change, the more things stay the same: maternal attitudes 3 to 18 months postpartum

“…Further, low maternal confidence has been found to be related to increased rumination in depressed mothers . Moreover, the increased rumination in depressed mothers also impaired problem‐solving, providing a link between low maternal self‐efficacy and actual impaired parenting ability . Previous research has also found that self‐efficacy is decreased in postpartum mothers with low levels of social support and that these two factors combine to predict postpartum depression .…”

“…While treatment for postpartum depression decreased parenting stress, which does include questions on maternal role competence, parenting stress was still higher in depressed mothers than in nondepressed mothers, indicating that the treatment did not specifically or indirectly improve feelings of maternal self‐efficacy. Further, low maternal confidence has been found to be related to increased rumination in depressed mothers . Moreover, the increased rumination in depressed mothers also impaired problem‐solving, providing a link between low maternal self‐efficacy and actual impaired parenting ability .…”

Rumination and postnatal depression: A systematic review and a cognitive model

“…In the final study identified, O'Mahen et al. (2015) examined the impact of rumination on parental problem solving.…”