Prenatal Planning and Breastfeeding: Buffering Postpartum Depression Through Positive Affect
<b>Background/Objectives:</b> In the context of maternal mental health, this cross-sectional study investigates a moderated mediation model to explore how prenatal planning is associated with postpartum depression. Specifically, we examined whether planned pregnancy (X) is associated wit...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/6/591 |
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| author | Ana Catala Cecilia Peñacoba Patricia Catalá |
| author_facet | Ana Catala Cecilia Peñacoba Patricia Catalá |
| author_sort | Ana Catala |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b>Background/Objectives:</b> In the context of maternal mental health, this cross-sectional study investigates a moderated mediation model to explore how prenatal planning is associated with postpartum depression. Specifically, we examined whether planned pregnancy (X) is associated with fewer postpartum depression symptoms (Y) through greater positive affect (M), and whether the indirect association is moderated by breastfeeding duration (W). <b>Methods</b>: Data were collected from 117 postpartum mothers via self-report questionnaires that measured the degree of pregnancy planning, positive affect, postpartum depression symptoms, and breastfeeding duration. Bootstrap analyses were performed to assess the conditional indirect effects across two levels of breastfeeding duration. <b>Results</b>: The findings suggest an indirect association between pregnancy planning and postpartum depressive symptoms through positive affect, moderated by breastfeeding duration. This association was statistically significant only among mothers who breastfed for less than six months, indicating that the protective emotional effect of pregnancy planning may be more evident in this group. No significant indirect effects were observed in mothers who breastfed beyond this duration. <b>Conclusions</b>: These exploratory findings suggest that positive affect may be a pathway through which prenatal planning relates to maternal well-being, particularly in the context of breastfeeding practices. Given the cross-sectional design, causal inferences cannot be drawn. Future longitudinal research is needed to confirm these associations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0f233d68d0e742f3949b2790a232c5d9 |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2076-3425 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
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| series | Brain Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-0f233d68d0e742f3949b2790a232c5d92025-06-25T13:35:08ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252025-05-0115659110.3390/brainsci15060591Prenatal Planning and Breastfeeding: Buffering Postpartum Depression Through Positive AffectAna Catala0Cecilia Peñacoba1Patricia Catalá2Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, SpainDepartment of Psychology, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28922 Alcorcón, SpainDepartment of Psychology, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28922 Alcorcón, Spain<b>Background/Objectives:</b> In the context of maternal mental health, this cross-sectional study investigates a moderated mediation model to explore how prenatal planning is associated with postpartum depression. Specifically, we examined whether planned pregnancy (X) is associated with fewer postpartum depression symptoms (Y) through greater positive affect (M), and whether the indirect association is moderated by breastfeeding duration (W). <b>Methods</b>: Data were collected from 117 postpartum mothers via self-report questionnaires that measured the degree of pregnancy planning, positive affect, postpartum depression symptoms, and breastfeeding duration. Bootstrap analyses were performed to assess the conditional indirect effects across two levels of breastfeeding duration. <b>Results</b>: The findings suggest an indirect association between pregnancy planning and postpartum depressive symptoms through positive affect, moderated by breastfeeding duration. This association was statistically significant only among mothers who breastfed for less than six months, indicating that the protective emotional effect of pregnancy planning may be more evident in this group. No significant indirect effects were observed in mothers who breastfed beyond this duration. <b>Conclusions</b>: These exploratory findings suggest that positive affect may be a pathway through which prenatal planning relates to maternal well-being, particularly in the context of breastfeeding practices. Given the cross-sectional design, causal inferences cannot be drawn. Future longitudinal research is needed to confirm these associations.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/6/591prenatal planningbreastfeeding durationpostpartum depressionpositive affectmaternal mental health |
| spellingShingle | Ana Catala Cecilia Peñacoba Patricia Catalá Prenatal Planning and Breastfeeding: Buffering Postpartum Depression Through Positive Affect Brain Sciences prenatal planning breastfeeding duration postpartum depression positive affect maternal mental health |
| title | Prenatal Planning and Breastfeeding: Buffering Postpartum Depression Through Positive Affect |
| title_full | Prenatal Planning and Breastfeeding: Buffering Postpartum Depression Through Positive Affect |
| title_fullStr | Prenatal Planning and Breastfeeding: Buffering Postpartum Depression Through Positive Affect |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prenatal Planning and Breastfeeding: Buffering Postpartum Depression Through Positive Affect |
| title_short | Prenatal Planning and Breastfeeding: Buffering Postpartum Depression Through Positive Affect |
| title_sort | prenatal planning and breastfeeding buffering postpartum depression through positive affect |
| topic | prenatal planning breastfeeding duration postpartum depression positive affect maternal mental health |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/6/591 |
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