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Cognitive factors and post‐partum depression: W hat is the influence of general personality traits, rumination, maternal self‐esteem, and alexithymia?
Author(s) -
Denis Anne,
Luminet Olivier
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
clinical psychology and psychotherapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.315
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1099-0879
pISSN - 1063-3995
DOI - 10.1002/cpp.2168
Subject(s) - rumination , alexithymia , neuroticism , toronto alexithymia scale , psychology , eysenck personality questionnaire , cognition , clinical psychology , population , personality , depression (economics) , beck depression inventory , post partum , big five personality traits , psychiatry , medicine , pregnancy , extraversion and introversion , anxiety , social psychology , genetics , macroeconomics , biology , economics , environmental health
Objectives The objective was to assess the impact of cognitive factors on post‐partum depression (PPD) symptoms. Because most of the literature data concern the immediate post‐partum period or the first year post‐partum, we notably sought to assess the longer term impact of cognitive factors on the symptoms of PPD. Methods Two studies were performed. In a pilot study, 1‐month post‐partum, 63 women filled out a sociodemographic information sheet and completed the abbreviated, revised Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, the Ruminative Responses Scale, the Maternal Self‐Report Inventory, and the Edinburgh Post‐Natal Depression Scale. In the main study, 124 women additionally completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale. The main study population was divided into 2 subgroups: women in the first year post‐partum ( n = 74) and those in the second year post‐partum ( n = 50). Results In the pilot study performed 1‐month post‐partum, brooding rumination and low self‐esteem were significant predictors of the PPD symptom intensity. Neuroticism, brooding rumination, and low maternal self‐esteem were also significant predictors of the PPD symptoms reported in the first year post‐partum. Lastly, ruminative thoughts and alexithymia were significant predictors of the PPD symptoms reported in the second year post‐partum. Conclusions Our results suggest that alexithymia may be an important predictor of the incidence of this condition. The observation of differences in the PPD models as a function of the post‐partum period may open up opportunities for developing novel PPD prevention/treatment programs.