Difference in postpartum depression between primiparous women who have single births versus multiple births
Date
2011-05Author
Parmentier, Angela M.
Advisor(s)
Jambunathan, Jaya
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Postpartum depression is a medical condition that affects 13% of mothers at some
point during the first year following childbirth. This illness can be devastating and may lead to a loss of one's self identity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the
difference in postpartum depression between primiparous mothers of singletons versus
primiparous mothers of multiples.
The theoretical framework for this study was Cheryl Beck's Postpartum
Depression Theory (2000). A descriptive comparative design was used to determine the
differences in PPD between the two groups of mothers. The target population for this
study was primiparous women of childbearing age. The sample was a convenience
sample of twenty-five mothers who were between two weeks and two years of delivery of
their first child. Two instruments were used for data collection: a demographic survey
developed by the researcher, and Beck's Postpartum Depression Screening Scale (PDSS).
Descriptive and inferential statistics were used. These included the Mann-
Whitney U test, correlations, and frequencies. The mean and mode were used to describe
the correlations in demographic factors between mothers of multiples and singletons.
Frequencies were used to evaluate total household income between mothers of single and
multiple births. A Mann-Whitney U test was used to look for difference in the seven
categories (sleeping/eating disturbances, anxiety/insecurity, emotional lability, mental
confusion, loss of self, guilt/shame, and suicidal thoughts) classified by the PDSS
between mothers. A Chi-Square test was used to analyze the relationship between the
PDSS classification and demographic factors such as educational level, marital status,
income, employment outside the home, history of depression, and gestation at delivery.
Results indicated that there was a significant difference in loss of self between
the two groups of primiparous mothers. A Mann-Whitney U test was significant at 0.02.
Mothers of multiples scored a 25.08 on the PDSS for the subcategory loss of self versus
mothers of singletons who scored 12.15.
Awareness of the differences in postpartum depression between mothers of
singletons and mothers of multiples can aid family nurse practitioners in providing a
more focused assessment on the loss of self. Advanced practice nurses need to be
screening and assessing for postpartum depression in both mothers of multiples and
mothers of singletons.
Subject
Postnatal care - Psychological aspects
Mothers - Mental health
Mother and infant
Motherhood - Psychological aspects
Childbirth - Psychological aspects
Mothers - Health and hygiene
Postpartum depression
Permanent Link
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/54094Description
A Clinical Paper submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Nursing-Family Nurse Practitioner