First-Time Mothers: Social Support, Maternal Parental Self-Efficacy and Postnatal Depression

Leahy-Warren, P., McCarthy, G., & Corcoran, P. (2012). First-time mothers: social support, maternal parental self-efficacy and postnatal depression. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 21(3-4), 388-397.

Social support was associated with a new mother’s confidence, which was further related to less postpartum depression.

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Sample

  • N: 410
  • Subject Ages: Not available
  • Location: Republic of Ireland, a large maternity unit
  • SES: Not available
  • Eligibility: First-time mother aged 18 years and over with a singleton baby and a medically uncomplicated pregnancy or baby full term at delivery; baby discharged with mother; English as first language; Caucasian.

Objective

  1. To examine the relationships between social support, maternal parental self-efficacy and postnatal depression in first-time mothers at six weeks post-delivery.

Variables Measured, Instruments Used

  • Social support - researcher-developed instrument
  • Maternal parental self-efficacy - the Perceived Maternal Parental Self-Efficacy Tool (Barnes & Adamson-Macedo, 2007)
  • Postnatal depression - the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (Cox, et al., 1987)

Design—Descriptive correlational

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Findings

  1. The significance of family support in enhancing maternal parental self-efficacy and positively influencing mental health for first-time mothers at 6 weeks post-delivery: There was a significant association between informal social network (family and friends) support and maternal parental self-efficacy at 6 weeks post-delivery.
  2. Significant relationships were found between: functional social support and postnatal depression; informal social support and postnatal depression; maternal parental self-efficacy and postnatal depression; and informal social support and maternal parental self-efficacy at 6 weeks post-delivery.

Limitations

  • As this was a quantitative study, mothers’ in-depth perceptions and experiences of social support, maternal parental self-efficacy and postnatal depression have not been explored from their frame of reference.
  • Non-random sample: A convenience sample was selected due to time constraints and in an effort to obtain a large number of respondents with consideration for tests of statistical significance. A random sample may have provided a group with differing support needs, maternal parental self-efficacy levels and rates of postnatal depression.