Kathryn Wouk, Bharathi Zvara, Christine Tucker, Samantha Meltzer-Brody, Brian Pence, and Alison M. Stuebe

Presented at the Nutrition and Nurture in Infancy and Childhood (MAINN) Conference, Monday 12th – Wednesday 14th June 2017, Grange Over Sands, Cumbria, UK

Perinatal depression affects approximately one in eight women during pregnancy and the first year postpartum (Gaynes et al. 2005). Untreated perinatal depression is associated with numerous adverse outcomes including early breastfeeding cessation (Dias & Figueiredo 2014) and serious child social and emotional developmental concerns (Stein et al. 2014). Research shows that individuals can reduce depression symptoms and build personal resources, such as social support and mindfulness, by increasing experiences of positive emotions (Fredrickson et al. 2008). However, the role of positive emotions in breastfeeding and perinatal mental health has not yet been explored.

The objective of this study was to determine the extent to which women’s experiences of positive emotions during infant feeding are associated with postpartum depression and anxiety symptoms. This research is grounded in Barbara Fredrickson’s Broaden-and-Build theory of positive emotions, which posits that experiences of positive emotions trigger upward spirals that improve mental health and wellbeing (Fredrickson 2004). Applied in a variety of intervention contexts, this theory has demonstrated that cultivation of positive emotions through a loving-kindness meditation intervention leads to improved psychosocial outcomes, such as reduced depression symptoms (Fredrickson et al. 2008) and increased life satisfaction (Johnson et al. 2011). While it has not yet been tested in a perinatal population, the Broaden-and-Build theory suggests that positive emotions experienced during infant feeding may broaden the scope of a mother’s thoughts and actions, allowing her to build resources to cope with mental health challenges. Continue reading →