Postpartum depression and marital satisfaction: a longitudinal study in a Brazilian sample
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5712/rbmfc11(38)1044Keywords:
Depression Postpartum, Family Conflict, Family Therapy, Marital TherapyAbstract
Objective: This study examined the relationship between marital satisfaction and postpartum depression as well as the impact of postpartum depression and marital satisfaction on later relational characteristics among Brazilian couples. Studies have shown that marital satisfaction is an important antecedent to depression and that postpartum depression has an influence on marital satisfaction. Methods: A longitudinal study using multiple regression to test the association between marital satisfaction and depression was conducted among Brazilian women. Depressive symptomatology was assessed using the Self-Reporting Questionnaire 20 and marital satisfaction using an instrument developed by the researchers to test the individuals’ perception of their marital quality. Data were collected at 4 months and 2 years after childbirth. The longitudinal data allowed researchers to chronologically analyze the interaction of key variables. Results and Conclusions: Results showed that the model established between marital satisfaction and depression is appropriate for Brazilian couples as well as for postpartum women. This study highlights the potential impact of marital treatment on postpartum depression in Brazil.
Downloads
Metrics
References
Beach SRH, Sandeen EE, O’Leary KD. Depression in marriage: A model for etiology and treatment. New York: Guildford
Press; 1990.
Beach SRH, Katz J, Kim S, Brody GH. Prospective effects of marital satisfaction on depressive symptoms in established
marriages: A dyadic model. J Soc Pers Relat. 2003;20(3):355-71. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0265407503020003005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407503020003005
Whisman MA, Bruce ML. Marital dissatisfaction and incidence of major depressive episode in a community sample. J
Abnorm Psychol. 1999;108(4):674-8. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0021-843X.108.4.674 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-843X.108.4.674
Beach SRH, O’Leary KD. Treating depression in the context of marital discord: Outcome and predictor of response for marital
therapy versus cognitive therapy. Behav Ther. 1992;23(4):507-28. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7894(05)80219-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7894(05)80219-9
Denton WH, Golden RN, Walsh SR. Depression, marital discord and couple therapy. Curr Opin Psychiatr. 2003;16(1):29-34. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00001504-200301000-00007 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/00001504-200301000-00007
Hollist CS, Miller RB, Falceto OG, Fernandes CL. Marital satisfaction and depression: a replication of the Marital Discord
Model in a Latino sample. Fam Process. 2007;46(4):485-98. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1545-5300.2007.00227.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1545-5300.2007.00227.x
Henshaw C. Mood disturbance in the early puerperium: a review. Arch Womens Ment Health. 2003;6 Suppl 2:S33-42. DOI:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00737-003-0004-x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-003-0004-x
Goodman JH. Influences of maternal postpartum depression on fathers and on father-infant interaction. Infant Ment Health
J. 2008;29(6):624-43. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/imhj.20199 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/imhj.20199
Goodman SH, Broth MR, Hall CM, Stowe ZN. Treatment of postpartum depression in mothers: Secondary benefits to the
infants. Infant Ment Health J. 2008;29(5):492-513. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/imhj.20188 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/imhj.20188
Sotto-Mayor IMB, Piccinini CA. Relacionamento conjugal e depressão materna. Psico. 2005;36(2):135-48.
Carter W, Grigoriadis S, Ross LE. Relationship distress and depression in postpartum women: literature review and
introduction of a conjoint interpersonal psychotherapy intervention. Arch Womens Ment Health. 2010;13(3):279-84. DOI:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00737-009-0136-8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-009-0136-8
Dennis CL, Ross L. Women’s perceptions of partner support and conflict in the development of postpartum depressive
symptoms. J Adv Nurs. 2006;56(6):588-99. PMID: 17118038 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2006.04059.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2006.04059.x
Parada BV, Stevenson PR, Saldivia S, Kohn R, Torres S. Estudio chileno de prevalencia de patología psiquiátrica (DSMIII-
R/CIDI) (ECPP). Rev Méd Chile. 2002;130(5):527-36.
Almeida-Filho N, Mari Jde J, Coutinho E, França JF, Fernandes J, Andreoli SB, et al. Brazilian multicentric study of
psychiatric morbidity. Methodological features and prevalence estimates. Br J Psychiatry. 1997;171:524-9. PMID: 9519090
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/bjp.171.6.524 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.171.6.524
Beck AT, Rush A J, Shaw BF, Emery G. Terapia cognitiva da depressão. Rio de Janeiro: Zahar; 1982.
Korin EC. Brazilian Families. In: McGoldrick M, Giordano J, Pearce JK, eds. Ethnicity and family therapy. 2nd ed. New York:
Guilford Press; 1996. p.200-13.
Harding TW, de Arango MV, Baltazar J, Climent CE, Ibrahim HH, Ladrido-Ignacio L, et al. Mental disorders in primary
health care: a study of their frequency and diagnosis in four developing countries. Psychol Med. 1980;10(2):231-41. DOI:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0033291700043993 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291700043993
Mari JJ, Williams P. A validity study of a psychiatric screening questionnaire (SRQ-20) in primary care in the city of Sao
Paulo. Br J Psychiatry. 1986;148:23-6. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/bjp.148.1.23 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.148.1.23
Gottman JM. The marriage clinic: A scientifically based marital therapy. New York: Norton and Company; 1999.
Whisman MA. The association between depression and marital dissatisfaction. In: Beach SRH, ed. Marital and family
processes in depression: A scientific foundation for clinical practice. Washington: American Psychological Association;2001. p.3-24.
O’Hara MW. Postpartum depression: what we know. J Clin Psychol. 2009;65(12):1258-69. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20644 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20644
Moehler E, Brunner R, Wiebel A, Reck C, Resch F. Maternal depressive symptoms in the postnatal period are associated
with long-term impairment of mother-child bonding. Arch Womens Ment Health. 2006;9(5):273-8. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00737-006-0149-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-006-0149-5
Page M, Wilhelm MS. Postpartum daily stress, relationship quality, and depressive symptoms. Contemp Fam Ther. 2007;29(4):237-51. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10591-007-9043-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-007-9043-1
O’Brien M, Asay JH, McCluskey-Fawcett K. Family functioning and maternal depression following premature birth. J Reprod
Infant Psychol. 1999;17(2):175-88. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02646839908409096 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02646839908409096
Goodman JH. Paternal postpartum depression, its relationship to maternal postpartum depression, and implications for
family health. J Adv Nurs. 2004;45(1):26-35. PMID: 14675298 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2648.2003.02857.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2648.2003.02857.x
Howell EA, Mora PA, Chassin MR, Leventhal H. Lack of preparation, physical health after childbirth, and early postpartum
depressive symptoms. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2010;19(4):703-8. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2008.1338 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2008.1338
Shelton NJ, Herrick KG. Comparison of scoring methods and thresholds of the General Health Questionnaire-12 with
the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale in English women. Public Health. 2009;123(12):789-93. DOI: http://dx.doi. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2009.09.012
org/10.1016/j.puhe.2009.09.012
Stutzman SV, Miller RB, Hollist CS, Falceto OG. Effects of marital quality on children in Brazilian families. J Comp Fam
Stud. 2009;40(3):475-92.
Gollan JK, Friedman MA, Miller IW. Couple therapy in the treatment of major depression. In: Gurman AS, Jacobson NS,
eds. Clinical Handbook of Couple Therapy. 3a ed. New York: Guilford Press; 2002. p.653-76.
Beach SRH. Marital therapy for co-occurring marital discord and depression. In: Beach SRH, ed. Marital and family process
in depression: A scientific foundation for clinical practice. Washington: American Psychological Association; 2001. p.205-24.
Prince SE, Jacobson NS. Couple and family therapy for depression. In: Beckham EE, Leber WR, eds. Handbook of
depression. 2a ed. New York: Guilford; 1995. p.404-24.
Addis ME, Jacobson NS. Reasons for depression and the process and outcome of cognitive-behavioral psychotherapies.
J Consult Clin Psychol. 1996;64(6):1417-24. PMID: 8991328 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.64.6.1417 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.64.6.1417
Johnson SM. The Practice of Emotionally Focused Marital Therapy: Creating Connection. New York: Brunner/Mazel; 1996. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/e323782004-007
Dessaulles A, Johnson SM, Denton WH. Emotion-focused therapy for couples in the treatment of depression: A pilot study.
Am J Fam Ther. 2003;31(5):345-53. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01926180390232266 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01926180390232266
Sprenkle DH. Effectiveness Research in Marriage and Family Therapy. Alexandria: American Association for Marriage
and Family Therapy; 2002.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
By submitting a manuscript to the RBMFC, authors retain ownership of the copyright in the article, and authorize RBMFC to publish that manuscript under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license and identify itself as the vehicle of its original publication.