Personal resources associated with peripartum depression among mothers of NICU hospitalised preterm infants

Objective: The high prevalence of peripartum depression (PPD) among mothers of preterm infants concerns health professionals due to its implications for mothers’ and infants’ health. A model for explaining PPD, consisting of four personal resources was examined: locus of control, intolerance to uncertainty, maternal self-efficacy, and quality of the couple relationship. Design: In one of the largest Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Israel, 129 mothers of 215 preterm infants completed self-report questionnaires regarding their background variables, locus of control, intolerance to uncertainty, maternal self-efficacy and quality of couple relationship. Main Outcome Measures: PPD symptoms and high risk for diagnosing clinical PPD. Results: The examined personal resources explained 43.9% of the variance in PPD symptoms. Intolerance to uncertainty was positively associated with PPD symptoms, while internal locus of control, high levels of maternal self-efficacy, and high quality of couple relationships were found to be negatively associated with PPD symptoms. Additionally, these variables predicted the likelihood for clinical PPD. Conclusion: The findings indicate a potential likelihood of reducing PPD through healthcare professional interventions, by strengthening personal resources. Associations between personal resources and PPD are discussed in light of the transactional theory of coping.