Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra , Coimbra , Portugal.
Research Group "Relationships, Development & Health", Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive-Behavioural Intervention, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra , Coimbra , Portugal.
J Reprod Infant Psychol. 2019 Nov;37(5):539-553. doi: 10.1080/02646838.2019.1597969. Epub 2019 Apr 5.
: This study aimed to explore the direct and indirect effects of self-criticism on postpartum depressive symptoms, through postpartum cognitions, and analyse the moderating role of self-compassion in this relationship. : Self-criticism and self-compassion are associated with postpartum depression. However, further research is needed to understand how these mechanisms operate in the development/maintenance of depressive symptoms. : 686 women in the postpartum period (up to 12 months after birth) recruited in-person and online answered a cross-sectional survey. : The effect of self-criticism on postpartum depressive symptoms occurred sequentially, increasing the frequency of negative automatic thoughts and subsequently the metacognitive appraisal of these thoughts. Self-compassion had a moderating effect only on the relation between self-criticism and postpartum cognitions. The effect of self-criticism on postpartum cognitions decreased in the presence of higher self-compassion. : This study emphasises the negative effect of a self-critical thinking style and of a negative appraisal of thought's content on depression symptoms. Moreover, this work underscores the buffering role of self-compassion in the relationship between self-criticism and postpartum cognitions. These results highlight the need to address the reduction of self-criticism and the promotion of self-compassion strategies to deal with postpartum cognitions, in order to prevent and treat postpartum depressive symptoms.
本研究旨在通过产后认知，探讨自我批评对产后抑郁症状的直接和间接影响，并分析自我同情在这种关系中的调节作用。自我批评和自我同情与产后抑郁有关。然而，需要进一步的研究来了解这些机制在抑郁症状的发展/维持中的作用。本研究共招募了 686 名产后（产后 12 个月内）的女性，她们通过面对面和在线的方式回答了一份横断面调查。自我批评对产后抑郁症状的影响是依次发生的，增加了消极自动思维的频率，进而增加了对这些思维的元认知评价。自我同情仅对自我批评和产后认知之间的关系具有调节作用。自我同情程度越高，自我批评对产后认知的影响就越小。本研究强调了自我批评的思维方式和对思维内容的消极评价对抑郁症状的负面影响。此外，这项工作强调了自我同情在自我批评和产后认知之间关系中的缓冲作用。这些结果强调了需要减少自我批评和促进自我同情策略来应对产后认知，以预防和治疗产后抑郁症状。
