Family Interactions in a Postpartum Depression Context: Women’s Perception

Abstract

Objective: To know the perception of women about family interactions after the manifestation of Postpartum Depression symptoms.

Methods: An exploratory, descriptive and qualitative study developed with 11 women with symptoms of postpartum depression on the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale. Data collected from August to September 2015 with semi-structured interview and analyzed through Content Analysis. Respecting CNS Resolution 466/2012, the study received opinion 62/2012 from the Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Rio Grande. All participants signed an informed consent form.

Results: three categories: the manifestation of postpartum depression symptoms before and after delivery, which addresses the moments of symptom discovery and its influence on the family; Postpartum Depression as a barrier to the construction of healthy family relationships, which highlights the family conflicts arising from the depressive condition; and the Postpartum Depression as a motivator for strengthening the relationship with the family, which demonstrates motivation for support in the face of difficulties.

Final Considerations: depressive symptoms interfere with family interactions. In most cases negatively, causing conflicts and removal, in others, positively, considering the mechanisms for overcoming adversity.