Mechanism underlying postpartum depression and well-being among low resource mothers

Dawra; Dr. Moazama Aanwar; Dr. Muhammad Luqman Khan

doi:10.71085/sss.05.03.583

Authors

Dawra Clinical Psychologist, Psychotherapist and Lecturer Psychology Department Thal University, Bhakkar, Punjab, Pakistan
Dr. Moazama Aanwar Senior Clinical Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Incharge Adolescent Health Centre DHQ Hospital Faisalabad & Assistant Professor Department of Psychology Riphah International University, Faisalabad Campus Punjab, Pakistan
Dr. Muhammad Luqman Khan Associate Professor, Incharge Department of Psychology Riphah International University, Faisalabad Campus Punjab, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.71085/sss.05.03.583

Keywords:

Postpartum Depression, Well-being, Spousal Support, Perceived Social Support, Coping Strategies, Emotion Regulation, Cognitive Reappraisal

Abstract

In this paper, the psychological pathways through which interpersonal resources contribute to the occurrence of postpartum depression and maternal well-being in a low-resource, collectivist society have been examined. For the purpose of the study, a correlational research design was used and data were collected from N = 200 highly distressed postpartum mothers (EPDS > 13) in District Bhakkar, Pakistan. Hayes’ PROCESS Macro was used to examine mediation and moderation models. Competitive mediation was found to exist such that spousal support and social support contributed to adaptive coping but this, in turn, aggravated the symptoms of postpartum depression as a result of the uncontrollable nature of socio-economic stress. On the other hand, cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression emerged as significant cultural moderators. Both emotion regulation strategies acted as buffers to the relationship between social support and maternal well-being owing to the contribution of both these emotion regulation strategies towards harmonious functioning in the traditional joint family system.