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BACKGROUND:Perinatal depression is reported in 15-20% of women (Marcus, 2009), 8-16% of men (Paulson and Bazemore, 2010) and low-SES, diverse populations are particularly at risk (Sareen, 2011). Trauma symptoms are commonly comorbid with depression, especially when individuals are exposed to risk factors such as community violence and poverty (Kastello et al., 2015; WenzGross et al., 2016). Parental mental illness places infants at risk for negative outcomes (Junge et al., 2016). Evidence supports that dispositional mindfulness is linked to mental health in many populations, however, a gap lies in the understanding of the relationship between mindfulness, trauma and depression in risk-exposed, pregnant populations, especially with fathers. We hypothesize that dispositional mindfulness is negatively associated with lower depression and trauma symptoms in pregnancy, in mothers and fathers.
METHODS:
Dispositional mindfulness, depressive and trauma symptoms were examined in women and men, exposed to adversity who were expecting a baby (N = 102). Independent t-tests, and bivariate correlations examined the relationships between these variables. Hierarchical regression was utilized to understand how mindfulness and trauma symptoms may contribute to antenatal depression symptoms.
RESULTS:
Significant differences were observed with mindfulness and depressive symptoms, with no differences reported across gender. Mindfulness, depressive and trauma symptoms were associated in the expected directions. Total mindfulness, specifically being non-reactive to one's own thoughts and trauma symptoms predicted depressive symptoms.
LIMITATIONS:
Limitations include small sample size, cross-sectional data and self-report measures.
CONCLUSION:
Mindfulness and trauma symptoms were found to be significant predictors of depressive symptoms in parents-to-be. Those with lower mindfulness exhibited higher levels of depression. These findings may be helpful in disseminated mindfulness-based interventions aimed at treating antenatal depression in both expectant mothers and fathers who are exposed to adversity. Further research is necessary to understand the mechanisms of mindfulness in risk-exposed, expectant parents.
BACKGROUND:Perinatal depression is reported in 15-20% of women (Marcus, 2009), 8-16% of men (Paulson and Bazemore, 2010) and low-SES, diverse populations are particularly at risk (Sareen, 2011). Trauma symptoms are commonly comorbid with depression, especially when individuals are exposed to risk factors such as community violence and poverty (Kastello et al., 2015; WenzGross et al., 2016). Parental mental illness places infants at risk for negative outcomes (Junge et al., 2016). Evidence supports that dispositional mindfulness is linked to mental health in many populations, however, a gap lies in the understanding of the relationship between mindfulness, trauma and depression in risk-exposed, pregnant populations, especially with fathers. We hypothesize that dispositional mindfulness is negatively associated with lower depression and trauma symptoms in pregnancy, in mothers and fathers.
METHODS:
Dispositional mindfulness, depressive and trauma symptoms were examined in women and men, exposed to adversity who were expecting a baby (N = 102). Independent t-tests, and bivariate correlations examined the relationships between these variables. Hierarchical regression was utilized to understand how mindfulness and trauma symptoms may contribute to antenatal depression symptoms.
RESULTS:
Significant differences were observed with mindfulness and depressive symptoms, with no differences reported across gender. Mindfulness, depressive and trauma symptoms were associated in the expected directions. Total mindfulness, specifically being non-reactive to one's own thoughts and trauma symptoms predicted depressive symptoms.
LIMITATIONS:
Limitations include small sample size, cross-sectional data and self-report measures.
CONCLUSION:
Mindfulness and trauma symptoms were found to be significant predictors of depressive symptoms in parents-to-be. Those with lower mindfulness exhibited higher levels of depression. These findings may be helpful in disseminated mindfulness-based interventions aimed at treating antenatal depression in both expectant mothers and fathers who are exposed to adversity. Further research is necessary to understand the mechanisms of mindfulness in risk-exposed, expectant parents.
The quality of the prenatal caregiving bond with the unborn baby contributes to later parenting and healthy infant behavior and development. Previous research indicates that maternal antenatal depression can disrupt bonding with the fetus and increases risks such as prematurity and low birthweight; less is known about the effects of paternal depression on prenatal bonding. Research suggests that mindfulness may ameliorate depression symptoms in adults. This study hypothesized that dispositional mindfulness would moderate the influence of parental depression symptoms during pregnancy on the quality of prenatal bonding in a sample of expectant mothers and fathers. Self-report measures of dispositional mindfulness, depression symptoms, and quality of prenatal bonding were administered to 82 expectant parents in a metropolitan Midwest city. Higher levels of mindfulness were negatively associated with depression symptoms and positively associated with quality of prenatal bonding. Mindfulness moderated the relationship between depression symptomology and quality of attachment, such that for parents with low and average mindfulness, depression symptoms were significantly and inversely related to quality of bonding; for parents with higher depression symptom levels, mindfulness did not moderate quality of bonding. These findings suggest that trait mindfulness may promote a stronger bond during pregnancy between a parent and the unborn child. Data presented highlight the potential importance of developing higher levels of mindfulness especially in parents at risk for depression or poor prenatal bonding.