Top

Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology

Published in:

01-02-2017 | Original Paper

Loss of group memberships predicts depression in postpartum mothers

Authors: Magen Seymour-Smith, Tegan Cruwys, S. Alexander Haslam, Wendy Brodribb

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 2/2017

Abstract

Purpose

The postpartum period presents the highest risk for women’s mental health throughout the lifespan. We aimed to examine the Social Identity Model of Identity Change in this context. More specifically, we investigated changes in social identity during this life transition and their consequences for women’s postpartum mental health.

Methods

Women who had given birth within the last 12 months (N = 387) reported on measures of depression, social group memberships, and motherhood identification.

Results

Analyses indicated that a decrease in group memberships after having a baby, controlling for group memberships prior to birth, was associated with an increase in depressive symptomology. However, maintaining pre-existing group memberships was predictive of better mental health. New group memberships were not associated with depressive symptomology. Identification as a mother was a strong positive predictor of mental health in the postpartum period.

Conclusions

The social identity model of identity change provides a useful framework for understanding postpartum depression. Interventions to prevent and treat postpartum depression might aim to support women in maintaining important social group networks throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Leahy-Warren P, McCarthy G (2007) Postnatal depression: prevalence, mothers’ perspectives, and treatments. Arch Psychiatr Nurs 21(2):91–100. doi:10.1016/j.apnu.2006.10.006 CrossRefPubMed

O’Hara MW, Swain AM (1996) Rates and risk of postpartum depression—a meta-analysis. Int Rev Psychiatry 8(1):37–54. doi:10.3109/09540269609037816 CrossRef

Almond P (2009) Postnatal depression: a global public health perspective. Perspect Public Health 129(5):221–227. doi:10.1177/1757913909343882 CrossRefPubMed

O’Hara MW, McCabe JE (2013) Postpartum depression: current status and future directions. Annu Rev Clin Psychol 9:379–407. doi:10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-050212-185612 CrossRefPubMed

Beck CT (2006) Postpartum depression: it isn’t just the blues. Am J Nurs 106(5):40–50CrossRef

Murray L (1992) The impact of postnatal depression on infant development. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 33:543–561. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.1992.tb00890.x CrossRefPubMed

Hendricks K, Liu J (2012) Maternal depression and childhood aggression: literature review. Am J Matern Child Nurs 37(4):253–261. doi:10.1097/NMC.0b013e3182482c5e CrossRef

Shapiro AF, Gottman JM, Carrère S (2000) The baby and the marriage: identifying factors that buffer against decline in marital satisfaction after the first baby arrives. J Fam Psychol 14:59–70. doi:10.1037//0893-3200.14.1.59 CrossRefPubMed

Stamp GH (1994) The appropriation of the parental role through communication during the transition to parenthood. Commun Monogr 61:89–112. doi:10.1080/03637759409376327 CrossRef

10.

Austin M-P, Kildea S, Sullivan E (2007) Maternal mortality and psychiatric morbidity in the perinatal period: challenges and opportunities for prevention in the Australian setting. Med J Aust 186:364–367PubMed

11.

Mendez-Bustos P, Lopez-Castroman J, Baca-García E, Ceverino A (2013) Life cycle and suicidal behaviour among women. Sci World J. doi:10.1155/2013/485851

12.

Oates M (2003) Suicide: the leading cause of maternal death. Br J Psychiatry 183:279–281. doi:10.1192/bjp.183.4.279 CrossRefPubMed

13.

World Health Organization (2011) Mental health: depression. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mental_health/management/depression/definition/en/. Accessed 16 May 2015

14.

Beck CT (2001) Predictors of postpartum depression: an update. Nurs Res 50(5):275–285. doi:10.1097/00006199-200109000-00004 CrossRefPubMed

15.

Barnet B, Joffe A, Duggan AK, Wilson MD, Repke JT (1996) Depressive symptoms, stress, and social support in pregnant and postpartum adolescents. Arch Paediatr Adolesc Med 150(1):64–69. doi:10.1001/archpedi.1996.02170260068011 CrossRef

16.

Glazier RH, Elgar FJ, Goel V, Holzapfel S (2004) Stress, social support, and emotional distress in a community sample of pregnant women. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol 25(3–4):247–255. doi:10.1080/01674820400024406 CrossRefPubMed

17.

Manuel JI, Martinson M, Bledsoe-Mansorid SE, Bellamye JL (2012) The influence of stress and social support on depressive symptoms in mothers with young children. Soc Sci Med 75(11):2013–2020. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2012.07.034 CrossRefPubMed

18.

Orr ST (2004) Social support and pregnancy outcome: a review of the literature. Clin Obstet Gynaecol 47(4):842–855. doi:10.1097/01.grf.0000141451.68933.9f CrossRef

19.

Swendsen JD, Mazure CM (2000) Life stress as a risk factor for postpartum depression: current research and methodological issues. Clin Psychol Sci Pract 7:17–31. doi:10.1093/clipsy.7.1.17 CrossRef

20.

Bolger N, Eckenrode J (1991) Social relationships, personality, and anxiety during a major stressful event. J Pers Soc Psychol 61:440–449. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.61.3.440 CrossRefPubMed

21.

Tajfel H, Turner JC (1979) An integrative theory of intergroup conflict. In: Austin WG, Worchel S (eds) The social psychology of intergroup relations. Brooks/Cole, Monterey, pp 33–48

22.

Haslam SA, Reicher SD, Levine M (2012) When other people are heaven, when other people are hell: How social identity determines the nature and impact of social support. In: Jetten J, Haslam C, Haslam SA (eds) The social cure: Identity, health and well-being. Psychology Press, New York, pp 157–174

23.

Haslam C, Cruwys T, Haslam SA (2014) “The we’s have it”: evidence for the distinctive benefits of group engagement in enhancing cognitive health in aging. Soc Sci Med 120:57–66. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.08.037 CrossRefPubMed

24.

Cruwys T, Haslam SA, Dingle GA, Haslam C, Jetten J (2014) Depression and social identity: an integrative review. Personal Soc Psychol Rev 18:215–238. doi:10.1177/1088868314523839 CrossRef

25.

Haslam SA, Jetten J, Postmes T, Haslam C (2009) Social identity, health and well-being: an emerging agenda for applied psychology. Appl Psychol 58:1–23. doi:10.1111/j.1464-0597.2008.00379.x CrossRef

26.

Greenaway KH, Haslam SA, Cruwys T, Branscombe NR, Ysseldyk R, Heldreth C (2015) From “We” to “Me”: group Identification enhances perceived personal control with consequences for health and well-being. J Pers Soc Psychol 109(1):53–74. doi:10.1037/pspi0000019 CrossRefPubMed

27.

Schmitt MT, Spears R, Branscombe NR (2003) Constructing a minority group identity out of shared rejection: the case of international students. Eur J Soc Psychol 33:1–12. doi:10.1002/ejsp.131 CrossRef

28.

Drury J, Cocking C, Reicher S (2009) Everyone for themselves? A comparative study of crowd solidarity among emergency survivors. Br J Soc Psychol 48:487–506. doi:10.1348/014466608X357893 CrossRefPubMed

29.

Jetten J, Haslam C, Haslam SA (2012) The social cure: Identity, health and well-being. Psychology Press, New York

30.

Cruwys T, Dingle GA, Haslam C, Haslam SA, Jetten J, Morton TA (2013) Social group memberships alleviate depression symptoms, prevent depression relapse, and protect against future depression. Soc Sci Med 98:179–186. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2013.09.013 CrossRefPubMed

31.

Dingle GA, Brander C, Ballantyne J, Baker FA (2012) “To be heard”: the social and mental health benefits of choir singing for disadvantaged adults. Psychol Music 41(4):405–421. doi:10.1177/0305735611430081 CrossRef

32.

Cruwys T, Haslam SA, Dingle GA, Jetten J, Hornsey MJ, Chong EMD, Oei TPS (2014) Feeling connected again: interventions that increase social identification reduce depression symptoms in community and clinical settings. J Affect Disord 159:139–146. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2014.02.019 CrossRefPubMed

33.

Sani F, Herrera M, Wakefield JRH, Boroch O, Gulyas C (2012) Comparing social contact and group identification as predictors of mental health. Br J Soc Psychol 51:781–790. doi:10.1111/j.2044-8309.2012.02101.x CrossRefPubMed

34.

Iyer A, Jetten J, Tsivrikos D (2008) Torn between identities: predictors of adjustment to identity change. In: Sani F (ed) Self-continuity: individual and collective perspectives. Psychology Press, New York, pp 187–197

35.

Iyer A, Jetten J, Tsivrikos D, Postmes T, Haslam SA (2009) The more (and the more compatible) the merrier: multiple group memberships and identity compatibility as predictors of adjustment after life transitions. Br J Soc Psychol 48:707–733. doi:10.1348/014466608X397628 CrossRefPubMed

36.

Jetten J, Haslam SA, Iyer A, Haslam C (2009) Turning to others in times of change: shared identity and coping with stress. In: Stürmer S, Snyder M (eds) New directions in the study of helping: group-level perspectives on motivations, consequences and interventions. Wiley, Blackwell, pp 139–156

37.

Haslam C, Jetten J, Haslam SA, Knight C (2012) The importance of remembering and deciding together: Enhancing the health and well-being of older adults in care. In: Jetten J, Haslam C, Haslam SA (eds) The social cure: identity, health and well-being. Psychology Press, London

38.

Haslam C, Haslam SA, Knight C, Gleibs I, Ysseldyk R, McCloskey L-G (2014) We can work it out: group decision making builds social identity and enhances the cognitive performance of care home residents. Br J Psychol 105:17–34. doi:10.1111/bjop.12012 CrossRefPubMed

39.

Haslam C, Holme A, Haslam SA, Iyer A, Jetten J, Williams WH (2008) Maintaining group memberships: social identity continuity predicts well-being after stroke. Neuropsychol Rehabil 18:671–691. doi:10.1080/09602010701643449 CrossRefPubMed

40.

Casler K, Bickel L, Hackett E (2013) Separate but equal? A comparison of participants and data gathered via amazon’s MTurk, social media, and face-to-face behavioural testing. Comput Human Behav 29(6):2156. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2013.05.009 CrossRef

41.

Potmes T, Haslam SA, Jans L (2012) A single-item measure of social identification: reliability, validity and utility. Br J Soc Psychol 52:597–617. doi:10.1111/bjso.12006 CrossRef

42.

Doosje B, Ellemers N, Spears R (1995) Perceived intragroup variability as a function of group status and identification. J Exp Soc Psychol 31(5):410–436. doi:10.1006/jesp.1995.1018 CrossRef

43.

Lovibond SH, Lovibond PF (1995) The structure of negative emotional states: comparison of the depression anxiety stress scales (DASS) with the beck depression and anxiety inventories. Behav Res Ther 33(3):335–343. doi:10.1016/0005-7967(94)00075-U CrossRefPubMed

44.

Cox J, Holden J, Sagovsky R (1987) Detection of postnatal depression. Development of the 10-item Edinburgh postnatal depression scale. Br J Psychiatry 150(6):782–786. doi:10.1192/bjp.150.6.782 CrossRefPubMed

45.

Murray D, Cox JL (1990) Screening for depression during pregnancy with the Edinburgh Depression Scale (EPDS). J Reprod Infant Psychol 8(2):99–107. doi:10.1080/02646839008403615 CrossRef

46.

Turner JC (1982) Towards a cognition redefinition of the social group. In: Tajfel H (ed) Social identity and intergroup relations. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 15–40

47.

Leger J, Letourneau N (2015) New mothers and postpartum depression: a narrative review of peer support intervention studies. Health Soc Care Commun 23(4):337–348. doi:10.1111/hsc.12125 CrossRef

48.

Dennis C, Chung-Lee L (2006) Postpartum depression help-seeking barriers and maternal treatment preferences: a qualitative systematic review. Birth 33(4):323–331. doi:10.1111/j.1523-536X.2006.00130.x CrossRefPubMed

49.

Mauthner NS (1999) Feeling low and feeling really bad about feeling low: women’s experiences of motherhood and postpartum depression. Can Psychol 40(2):143. doi:10.1037/h0086833 CrossRef

50.

Whitton A, Warner R, Appleby L (1996) The pathway to care in post-natal depression: women’s attitudes to post-natal depression and its treatment. Br J Gen Pract J R Coll Gen Pract 46(408):427–428

51.

Boath E, Bradley E, Henshaw C (2004) Women’s views of antidepressants in the treatment of postnatal depression. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol 25(3–4):221–233. doi:10.1080/01674820400017889 CrossRefPubMed

52.

Haslam C, Cruwys T, Haslam SA, Dingle G, Groups for Health: Therapist Manual (2015) Centre for health outcomes, innovation and clinical education. University of Queensland, Brisbane

53.

Haslam C, Cruwys T, Haslam SA, Dingle G, Chang MX (2016) Groups 4 health: evidence that a social-identity intervention that builds and strengthens social group membership improves mental health. J Affect Disord 194:188–195. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2016.01.010 CrossRefPubMed

54.

Haslam C, Cruwys T, Milne M, Kan C-H, Haslam SA (2016) Group ties protect cognitive health by promoting social identification and social support. J Health Aging 28(2):244–266. doi:10.1177/0898264315589578 CrossRef

55.

Holmes TH, Rahe RH (1967) The social readjustment rating scale. J Psychosom Res 11(2):213–218. doi:10.1016/0022-3999(67)90010-4 CrossRefPubMed

56.

Abrams LS, Curran L (2011) Maternal identity negotiations among low-income women with symptoms of postpartum depression. Qual Health Res 21(3):373–385. doi:10.1177/1049732310385123 CrossRefPubMed

57.

Vik K (2012) “Smile through It!” Keeping up the facade while suffering from postnatal depressive symptoms and feelings of loss: findings of a qualitative study. Psychology 3(29):810–817. doi:10.4236/psych.2012.329123 CrossRef

58.

Buhrmester M, Kwang T, Gosling S (2011) Amazon’s mechanical turk. Perspect Psychol Sci 6(1):3–5. doi:10.1177/1745691610393980 CrossRefPubMed

59.

Hauser D, Schwarz N (2016) Attentive turkers: MTurk participants perform better on online attention checks than do subject pool participants. Behav Res Methods 48(1):400. doi:10.3758/s13428-015-0578-z CrossRefPubMed

60.

Beck CT (1996) A meta-analysis of predictors of postpartum depression. Nurs Res 45(5):297–303CrossRefPubMed

61.

Haslam SA, O’Brien A, Jetten J, Vormedal K, Penna S (2005) Taking the strain: social identity, social support, and the experience of stress. Br J Soc Psychol 44(3):355–370. doi:10.1348/014466605X37468 CrossRefPubMed

62.

Haslam SA, Reicher S (2006) Stressing the group: social identity and the unfolding dynamics of responses to stress. J Appl Psychol 91(5):1037–1052. doi:10.1037/0021-9010.91.5.1037 CrossRefPubMed

63.

U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division (2016) Annual estimates of the resident population by sex, race alone or in combination, and hispanic origin for the United States, states, and counties: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015. http://www.census.gov/popest/data/national/asrh/2015/index.html. Accessed 3 September 2016

64.

Proctor BD, Semega JL, Kollar MA (2016) U.S. Census Bureau. Current population reports, P60-256 (RV). Income and poverty in the United States: 2015. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC

Title: Loss of group memberships predicts depression in postpartum mothers
Authors: Magen Seymour-Smith
Tegan Cruwys
S. Alexander Haslam
Wendy Brodribb
Publication date: 01-02-2017
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 2/2017
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-016-1315-3

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Loss of group memberships predicts depression in postpartum mothers

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 2/2017

Commentary: on the application of potential outcomes-based methods to questions in social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology

Assessing needs for psychiatric treatment in prisoners: 2. Met and unmet need

Pilot study of enhanced social support with automated telephone monitoring after psychiatric hospitalization for depression

Time trends in first admission rates for schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders in Taiwan, 1998–2007: a 10-year population-based cohort study

Incidence of schizophrenia among migrants in the Netherlands: a direct comparison of first contact longitudinal register approaches

Invited Commentary on Stewart and Davis “ ‘Big data’ in mental health research—current status and emerging possibilities”