Making Sense of Postpartum Depression in Later Life: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
Format Type
Plenary
Format Type
Paper
Start Date
14-1-2021 2:00 PM
End Date
14-1-2021 2:20 PM
Abstract
Postpartum depression (PPD) occurs in as many as 1 in 7 women. Despite the wealth of research reporting the negative effects of PPD on childbearing women and their offspring, PPD remains underdiagnosed and largely untreated, contributing to significant societal costs and increased maternal mortality. Little is known about how women make sense of the experience in later life. Understanding how women describe and interpret the event in later life may provide critical perspective as to how providers might address the disorder not only in the postpartum period but across the lifespan. Semi-structured in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of 10 women self-identifying as having had PPD and whose children were 13 years or older were conducted. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to analyze and report results of the interviews. Three themes emerged: 1) It was like falling down a black hole, 2) It changed me, and 3) I am grateful it. While the experience of PPD included severe symptoms of insomnia, anxiety, suicidal ideation and intrusive thoughts of harm coming to the baby, women reported that they were changed in positive ways as a result. Increased confidence, competence, and sense of purpose were reported. Women described gratitude for the experience, as PPD facilitated substantive personal growth. Findings provide insight into the impact and meaning of PPD for women in later life and indicate future research into the transformative nature of a perinatal mood and anxiety disorder.
Keywords
postpartum depression, phenomenon, later life, growth, IPA
Making Sense of Postpartum Depression in Later Life: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
Postpartum depression (PPD) occurs in as many as 1 in 7 women. Despite the wealth of research reporting the negative effects of PPD on childbearing women and their offspring, PPD remains underdiagnosed and largely untreated, contributing to significant societal costs and increased maternal mortality. Little is known about how women make sense of the experience in later life. Understanding how women describe and interpret the event in later life may provide critical perspective as to how providers might address the disorder not only in the postpartum period but across the lifespan. Semi-structured in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of 10 women self-identifying as having had PPD and whose children were 13 years or older were conducted. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to analyze and report results of the interviews. Three themes emerged: 1) It was like falling down a black hole, 2) It changed me, and 3) I am grateful it. While the experience of PPD included severe symptoms of insomnia, anxiety, suicidal ideation and intrusive thoughts of harm coming to the baby, women reported that they were changed in positive ways as a result. Increased confidence, competence, and sense of purpose were reported. Women described gratitude for the experience, as PPD facilitated substantive personal growth. Findings provide insight into the impact and meaning of PPD for women in later life and indicate future research into the transformative nature of a perinatal mood and anxiety disorder.