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The role of perfectionism in postpartum depression and symptomatology

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Abstract

The role of perfectionism as a correlate and as a predictor of perinatal depressive symptomatology and disorder was examined. Three-hundred and eighty-six pregnant women (mean age = 30.08 years; SD = 4.205; range = 19–44) completed the Portuguese versions of the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, Beck Depression Inventory-II/BDI-II and three questions evaluating anxiety trait, life stress and social support perception. Diagnoses of depression were obtained using the Portuguese version of the Diagnostic Interview for Genetic Studies/OPCRIT system. Women who were depressed in pregnancy (ICD-10/DSM-IV) were excluded from the analyses. Self-Oriented Perfectionism and Socially Prescribed Perfectionism subcomponents (Conditional Acceptance and Others’ High Standards) were significant correlates of depressive symptomatology/BDI-II in pregnancy. Others’ High Standards was a significant predictor of postpartum depressive symptomatology/BDI-II, after controlling the other independent variables (depressive symptomatology and trait anxiety in pregnancy, life stress and social support perception in postpartum). None of the perfectionism subscales predicted postpartum depressive disorder (ICD-10/DSM-IV). Self-Oriented Perfectionism was an important correlate of depressive symptomatology in pregnancy and Others’ High Standards and Conditional Acceptance were significant correlates of perinatal depressive symptomatology. Others’ High Standards accounted for 0.8 % of the depressive symptomatology variance in postpartum after controlling the effect for other depressive symptomatology correlates. Perfectionism was not a risk factor for postpartum depressive disorder. Our findings improve the knowledge regarding the risk factors implicated in the development of postpartum depressive symptomatology/disorder, which is of utmost importance to develop adequate prevention and intervention strategies.

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Aknowledgments

We are deeply grateful to all the pregnant women and mothers who participated in the present study. To doctors, nurses and administrative personnel, we would equally like to thank them for their collaboration. This work supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (POCI 2010/FEDER/SAU-ESP/57068/2004).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Medical Psychology, Medicine Faculty, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Berta R. Maia, Ana T. Pereira, Mariana Marques, Sandra Bos, Maria J. Soares, José Valente, Maria H. Azevedo & António Macedo

  2. Instituto Superior de Serviço Social do Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Berta R. Maia

  3. Department of Education, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal

    Ana A. Gomes

  4. Instituto de Psicologia Médica, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-504, Coimbra, Portugal

    Berta R. Maia

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  1. Berta R. Maia
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  2. Ana T. Pereira
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  3. Mariana Marques
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  4. Sandra Bos
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  5. Maria J. Soares
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  6. José Valente
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  7. Ana A. Gomes
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  8. Maria H. Azevedo
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  9. António Macedo
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Correspondence to Berta R. Maia.

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Maia, B.R., Pereira, A.T., Marques, M. et al. The role of perfectionism in postpartum depression and symptomatology. Arch Womens Ment Health 15, 459–468 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-012-0310-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-012-0310-2

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