Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Coping as a Mediator between Attachment and Depression either in Pregnancy or in the Early Postpartum Period: A Structural Equation Modelling Approach

Mario Altamura
* ,
Ivana Leccisotti
,
Laura De Masi
,
Fiammetta Gallone
,
Livia Ficarella
,
Melania Severo
ORCID logo ,
Simona Biancofiore
,
Antonio Ventriglio
,
Annamaria Petito
ORCID logo ,
Giuseppe Maruotti
,
Luigi Nappi
,
Antonello Bellomo
Version 1 : Received: 25 May 2023 / Approved: 26 May 2023 / Online: 26 May 2023 (14:42:26 CEST)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Altamura, M.; Leccisotti, I.; De Masi, L.; Gallone, F.; Ficarella, L.; Severo, M.; Biancofiore, S.; Denitto, F.; Ventriglio, A.; Petito, A.; Maruotti, G.; Nappi, L.; Bellomo, A. Coping as a Mediator between Attachment and Depressive Symptomatology Either in Pregnancy or in the Early Postpartum Period: A Structural Equation Modelling Approach. Brain Sci. 2023, 13, 1002. Altamura, M.; Leccisotti, I.; De Masi, L.; Gallone, F.; Ficarella, L.; Severo, M.; Biancofiore, S.; Denitto, F.; Ventriglio, A.; Petito, A.; Maruotti, G.; Nappi, L.; Bellomo, A. Coping as a Mediator between Attachment and Depressive Symptomatology Either in Pregnancy or in the Early Postpartum Period: A Structural Equation Modelling Approach. Brain Sci. 2023, 13, 1002.

Abstract

Abstract Peripartum depression (PPD) is a major complication of pregnancy and many risk factors have been associated with its development, including dysfunctional coping strategies and insecure attachment styles, both during pregnancy and postpartum. The aim of our study was to investigate the role of coping strategies in mediating the relationship between women’s attachment style and PPD in pregnancy, and one week after childbirth, in a large cohort of women. We hypothesized that the relationship between anxious and avoidant attachment and PPD would be mediated by use of maladaptive coping strategies. The assessment instruments were Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Brief Coping Orientation for Problem Experiences (COPE), Experiences in Close Relationship Scale (ECR). The results indicated that the effect of insecure attachment styles (anxious and avoidant attachment) on antepartum depressive symptomatology was partially mediated by dysfunctional coping styles. Anxious attachment has also an indirect significant effect on postpartum depression through emotional coping; however, avoidant attachment does not seem to be significantly related to postpartum depression. Our findings revealed that not only it is important to consider attachment in understanding PPD but also that coping plays an important role in these relationships. These findings would help a preventive coping-based intervention strategy to enhance the capacity of women with insecure attachment styles to use more adaptive coping during and after pregnancy.

Keywords

Perinatal Depression; Attachment Style; Coping Strategies; Gender Medicine; Women Health

Subject

Medicine and Pharmacology, Psychiatry and Mental Health

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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