Clinical Psychology Review
Clinical Psychology Review
3 years ago

A Self-Determination Theory Perspective on Postpartum Depressive Symptoms and Early Parenting Behaviors

Bart Soenens, Katrijn Brenning
Objective On the basis of self-determination theory, this study investigates longitudinal associations between satisfaction and frustration mothers’ basic psychological needs (i.e., autonomy, relatedness, competence) and mothers’ postnatal depressive symptoms and early parenting behaviors. Method Participants were 214 women assessed during their pregnancy (Time 1), 4 months after delivery (Time 2), and when the child was 2 years old (Time 3). Results Results demonstrate effects of prenatal basic psychological needs (needs frustration more specifically) on postnatal depressive symptoms. In addition, general prenatal needs satisfaction and frustration predicted more relationship-specific needs satisfaction and frustration, respectively (in the mother–child relationship). In turn, postnatal relationship-specific needs satisfaction predicted more high-quality parenting when the child is 2 years old. More specifically, needs satisfaction was related to more maternal responsiveness and autonomy support. Conclusion Overall, these findings underscore the importance of psychological needs experiences for both mothers’ personal adjustment after birth and for the early mother–child relationship.

Publisher URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/resolve/doi

DOI: 10.1002/jclp.22480

You might also like
Discover & Discuss Important Research

Keeping up-to-date with research can feel impossible, with papers being published faster than you'll ever be able to read them. That's where Researcher comes in: we're simplifying discovery and making important discussions happen. With over 19,000 sources, including peer-reviewed journals, preprints, blogs, universities, podcasts and Live events across 10 research areas, you'll never miss what's important to you. It's like social media, but better. Oh, and we should mention - it's free.

  • Download from Google Play
  • Download from App Store
  • Download from AppInChina

Researcher displays publicly available abstracts and doesn’t host any full article content. If the content is open access, we will direct clicks from the abstracts to the publisher website and display the PDF copy on our platform. Clicks to view the full text will be directed to the publisher website, where only users with subscriptions or access through their institution are able to view the full article.