Abstract
Ruminative thinking has been identified as a vulnerability factor for the onset and maintenance of depression. Furthermore,
depressed persons who are high in rumination report more difficulties in intimate relationships. It is still unclear, however,
whether rumination is predictive of postpartum depressive symptoms as well as impairments in the mother–infant relationship.
Possible associations were investigated in a short-term longitudinal study. Controlling for age, pre- and postnatal depressive
symptoms, ruminative thinking during pregnancy was a significant predictor of mother-reported impairments in the mother–infant
relationship. Yet, rumination was not predictive of postpartum depressive symptoms. The implications of these findings are
discussed.
depressed persons who are high in rumination report more difficulties in intimate relationships. It is still unclear, however,
whether rumination is predictive of postpartum depressive symptoms as well as impairments in the mother–infant relationship.
Possible associations were investigated in a short-term longitudinal study. Controlling for age, pre- and postnatal depressive
symptoms, ruminative thinking during pregnancy was a significant predictor of mother-reported impairments in the mother–infant
relationship. Yet, rumination was not predictive of postpartum depressive symptoms. The implications of these findings are
discussed.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Article
- Pages 1-8
- DOI 10.1007/s10608-012-9454-7
- Authors
- Dana Müller, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, 44780 Bochum, Germany
- Tobias Teismann, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, 44780 Bochum, Germany
- Beate Havemann, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, 44780 Bochum, Germany
- Johannes Michalak, Institute of Psychology, Universität Hildesheim, Hildesheim, Germany
- Sabine Seehagen, Department of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- Journal Cognitive Therapy and Research
- Online ISSN 1573-2819
- Print ISSN 0147-5916