Explaining Postnatal Distress: An Examination of Cognitive Mechanisms
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Explaining Postnatal Distress: An Examination of Cognitive Mechanisms as Mediators of Attachment styles and Maternal Bonding and Distress.
IRAS ID
259172
Contact name
Helen Christie Pike
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Kingston Univeristy
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
n/a, n/a
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Explaining Postnatal Distress: An Examination of Cognitive Mechanisms
Perinatal depression is reported to affect between 13-20% of women, with clear and potentially deleterious distress outcomes for mother and child; depression and mother-baby relationship impairments (Bowen & Muhajarine, 2006; Van Bussel, Spotz, & Demyttenaere, 2006; Gavin et al., 2005; Satyanarayana, Lukose, & Srinivasan, 2011; NCT, 2017; NHS Improving Quality, 2015). It is also well known that adult attachment style has been linked to maternal wellbeing. However, due to the difficulty in altering attachment style directly, more proximal cognitive mechanisms associated with perinatal depression and maternal-infant attachment will be identified. Certain cognitive processes, such as, negative, perseverative thinking during pregnancy, have been linked to postpartum distress. These cognitive mechanisms offer more opportunity for change through psychological interventions during the antenatal period.
This study aims to identify which specific antenatal cognitive processes might maintain or predict the onset of the postnatal distress outcomes: maternal depression and mother-baby relationship impairments. The current study is a longitudinal, questionnaire-based study measuring women’s thoughts and feelings in the third trimester of pregnancy, and then 8-10 weeks postpartum. All participants will be recruited from an antenatal clinic in The Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust (SASH). Approximately 400 women will be recruited to take part in this study. Specifically, we are interested in whether the following modifiable cognitive mechanisms; rumination (self-critical and brooding), suppression (thought and expressive) and cognitive reappraisal as measured in pregnancy, predict postnatal depression and bonding impairments.
REC name
London - Hampstead Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/LO/1061
Date of REC Opinion
25 Jul 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion