In Their Own Words: A Qualitative Investigation of the Factors Influencing Maternal Postpartum Functioning in the United States

Ariana M. Albanese, Pamela A. Geller, Jackson M. Steinkamp and Jennifer L. Barkin
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Ariana M. Albanese: Department of Psychology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
Pamela A. Geller: Department of Psychology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
Jackson M. Steinkamp: Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
Jennifer L. Barkin: Mercer University School of Medicine Department of Community Medicine, Macon, GA 31207, USA

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 17, 1-28

Abstract: During the first twelve months postpartum, infants require intensive care and mothers are susceptible to physical and mental health concerns as they undergo a period of tremendous psychological and physiological adjustment. The mother’s level of postpartum functioning not only impacts her experience as a mother but also the infant and family unit. However, efforts to bolster functioning are lacking, and previous literature has identified a gap between what experts recommend and what mothers desire during the postpartum period. To address this, we conducted structured interviews with a diverse sample of 30 postpartum mothers to identify factors that mothers report are most influential to their postpartum functioning. In total, we identified 23 clinically actionable factors, all of which are backed by existing literature. In addition to an in-depth presentation of the qualitative findings, we also present a heat map to visualize the relevance of these factors to each of seven established domains of maternal functioning. Lastly, based on our findings, we offer a taxonomy of interventional strategies that could bolster maternal functioning during this critical period.

Keywords: maternal postpartum functioning; maternal–child health; women’s health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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