Mattering and Depressive Symptoms in Portuguese Postpartum Women: The Indirect Effect of Loneliness

Bárbara Caetano, Mariana Branquinho (), Maria Cristina Canavarro and Ana Fonseca
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Bárbara Caetano: Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences Coimbra, University of Coimbra, 3000-115 Coimbra, Portugal
Mariana Branquinho: Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive Behavioral Intervention, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-115 Coimbra, Portugal
Maria Cristina Canavarro: Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive Behavioral Intervention, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-115 Coimbra, Portugal
Ana Fonseca: Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive Behavioral Intervention, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-115 Coimbra, Portugal

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 18, 1-11

Abstract: Background: Postpartum depression is described as the most prevalent clinical condition in the postpartum period, with several negative consequences. The current study aimed to understand the relationship between mattering, loneliness and depressive symptoms in Portuguese postpartum women and to examine the potential mediating role of loneliness in the relationship between mattering and depressive symptomatology among postpartum women. Methods: This cross-sectional study included a sample collected online composed of 530 Portuguese women in the postpartum period, who answered self-report questionnaires to assess depressive symptoms, mattering, and loneliness. Results: It was found that the relationships between mattering, loneliness, and depressive symptoms were significant, p < 0.001: (a) higher levels of mattering were associated with lower levels of loneliness and depressive symptomatology and (b) higher levels of loneliness were associated with higher levels of depressive symptomatology. The relationship between mattering and postpartum depressive symptoms occurred directly and indirectly through loneliness, 95% CI = [−0.75, −0.46]. Conclusions: These results highlight the importance of studying loneliness as a possible risk factor for postpartum depression and alert to the pertinence of considering mattering and loneliness in the assessment and intervention with women in the perinatal period.

Keywords: depressive symptoms; loneliness; mattering; postpartum; postpartum depression (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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