Abstract
The aim of this study was to explore the role of affect management in postpartum relapse to smoking. Between January and October
2005, 65 women who smoked prior to pregnancy but not during the last month of pregnancy were recruited from Brigham and Women’s
Hospital in Boston, MA, and followed for 24 weeks. Surveys administered at baseline, 2, 6, 12, and 24 weeks postpartum assessed
smoking status and symptoms of depression (Beck Depression Inventory, BDI) and anxiety (Beck Anxiety Inventory, BAI). Qualitative
interviews were conducted when women relapsed or achieved an elevated BDI or BAI score. Elevated BDI or BAI scores did not
predict relapse, suggesting that symptoms that make women vulnerable to relapse may not be fully captured by these instruments.
Women described feelings of anger or frustration as part of the relapse experience. Women with elevated BDI or BAI scores
who did not relapse were more likely to normalize their mood symptoms as part of the postpartum experience and described more
adaptive and active coping strategies. Interventions designed to prevent postpartum relapse to smoking may need to target
a broader range of negative affect and mood management strategies to increase the likelihood of efficacy.
2005, 65 women who smoked prior to pregnancy but not during the last month of pregnancy were recruited from Brigham and Women’s
Hospital in Boston, MA, and followed for 24 weeks. Surveys administered at baseline, 2, 6, 12, and 24 weeks postpartum assessed
smoking status and symptoms of depression (Beck Depression Inventory, BDI) and anxiety (Beck Anxiety Inventory, BAI). Qualitative
interviews were conducted when women relapsed or achieved an elevated BDI or BAI score. Elevated BDI or BAI scores did not
predict relapse, suggesting that symptoms that make women vulnerable to relapse may not be fully captured by these instruments.
Women described feelings of anger or frustration as part of the relapse experience. Women with elevated BDI or BAI scores
who did not relapse were more likely to normalize their mood symptoms as part of the postpartum experience and described more
adaptive and active coping strategies. Interventions designed to prevent postpartum relapse to smoking may need to target
a broader range of negative affect and mood management strategies to increase the likelihood of efficacy.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Article
- Pages 1-6
- DOI 10.1007/s00737-011-0250-2
- Authors
- Christina Psaros, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, One Bowdoin Square, 7th Floor, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Hannah Pajolek, Mongan Institute for Health Policy, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, 9th floor 50 Staniford St., Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Elyse R. Park, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, One Bowdoin Square, 7th Floor, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Journal Archives of Women’s Mental Health
- Online ISSN 1435-1102
- Print ISSN 1434-1816