Maternal Voices in Times of Change: Centering Motherhood Discourses to Inform Tailored Postpartum Depression Interventions

Abstract

This thesis details a study examining the compounded impact of a global pandemic on mothers experiencing postpartum depression (PPD). In 2020, an online cross-sectional mixed-methods survey was conducted with 500 mothers who gave birth within the previous 12 months, with 317 participants meeting clinical criteria for PPD based on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Participants provided 452 responses to open-ended questions designed to capture the unique challenges of balancing motherhood and mental well-being during COVID-19. Thematic analysis revealed three emergent themes: experiencing fear, experiencing isolation, and lack of resource support. The themes illustrate how crisis contexts exacerbate existing vulnerabilities for new mothers that may hinder access to effective mental health support. Fishbein's (2009) Integrative Model of Behavioral Prediction (IMBP) is employed as a conceptual interpretive framework when examining mothers’ accounts to understand how their concerns may inform support-seeking behaviors during high-stress life events. The study’s findings and discussion offer direction for the development of comprehensive interventions that more thoroughly address the multilevel mental health needs of new mothers.