Marques, C., Martins, M. J., Marques, M., Azevedo, J., Bento, E., Xavier, S., Soares, M. J., Macedo, A., & Pereira, A. T. (2016). Self-compassion and perinatal depression. In Anderson, G (Ed). Postpartum Depression: Prevalence, Risk Factors and Outcomes. New York: Nova Science Publishers.
Self-compassion has been associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms in general population. Although recent research indicates that dysfunctional maternal attitudes predict the development of perinatal depression and anxiety symptoms, few studies have examined the role of self-compassion and its relationship with psychological well-being in women in the perinatal period. In the present chapter, we will begin to present a review of this topic followed by a brief description of the results of the project “Screening, prevention and early intervention in perinatal depression – A new program effectiveness in primary healthcare” regarding the association between self-compassion and depressive symptoms/disorders in the perinatal period. Within the above mentioned project we are evaluating women at the second trimester of pregnancy and also at three time points at the postpartum (fifth week, third and sixth months). So far we have assessed 427 women in their second trimester of pregnancy (mean age: 32.56 ± 4.78 years), who we are following up at five weeks, three and six months postpartum. For the studies presented in this chapter we used subsamples from this larger sample (results concerning six months postpartum will not be addressed). In all assessment points, participants completed a set of self-report questionnaires, which we validated for the perinatal period. The Self-Compassion Scale (SCS, Neff, 2003b; Bento et al., 2016) was used to assess Self-Kindness, Self-Judgment, Common Humanity, Isolation, Mindfulness and Over-Identification. The Postpartum Depression Screening Scale (PDSS; Beck & Gable, 2002; Pereira et al., 2013) evaluated depressive symptoms in pregnancy and after birth. Finally we used the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21; Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995; Xavier et al., 2016) to assess depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms.Our preliminary results emphasize the protective role of self-compassion abilities in psychological distress in the perinatal period. We also intend to address the clinical implications of our findings, namely by describing our prevention and early intervention program for perinatal psychological distress – Mother in Me (MIM). Although inspired by other programs with studied efficacy, the MIM program was developed to address the unique needs and concerns of women in the perinatal period, which aims help women cope with depressive and anxiety symptoms, through mindfulness and self-compassion exercises.