Citation

Crockenberg SC, Leerkes EM. J. Fam. Psychol. 2003; 17(1): 80-93.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, John Dewey Hall, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405-0134, USA. s_crocke@dewey.uvm.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, American Psychological Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12666465

Abstract

Mothers (n = 92), fathers (n = 84), and their infants (60% male) participated in a longitudinal study of postpartum depression and maternal sensitivity. Mothers completed questionnaire measures of remembered parental acceptance, depressive symptoms, and infant distress to novelty and limits. Mothers and partners reported on marital aggression and avoidance. Maternal sensitivity was observed in the laboratory at 6 months. Characteristics of mothers, partners, and infants combined to predict postpartum depression and maternal sensitivity. Remembered parental rejection predicted postpartum depressive symptoms with prenatal depression controlled; self-esteem mediated this effect. Paternal acceptance buffered against postpartum depression when infants were highly reactive and when partners were aggressive. Paternal acceptance reduced the impact of postpartum depression on maternal sensitivity; having an aggressive marital partner exacerbated the effect.

Language: en