References

Beato AF, Albuquerque S, Kömürcü Akik B, Costa LP, Salvador Á Do Maternal Self-Criticism and Symptoms of Postpartum Depression and Anxiety Mediate the Effect of History of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms on Mother-Infant Bonding? Parallel–Serial Mediation Models. Front Psychol. 2022; 13:(858356) https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.858356

Besser A, Priel B Trait vulnerability and coping strategies in the transition to motherhood. Curr Psychol. 2003; 22:(1)57-72 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-003-1013-7

Bluth K, Neff KD New frontiers in understanding the benefits of self-compassion. Self Ident. 2018; 17:(6)605-608 https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1080/15298868.2018.1508494

Boland M, Cherry MG, Dickson R Doing a systematic review.London: Sage; 2017

Bowlby J Maternal care and mental health. Bull World Health Organ. 1951; 3:(3)355-533

Büchter RB, Weise A, Pieper D Development, testing and use of data extraction forms in systematic reviews: a review of methodological guidance. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2020; 20:(1) https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-020-01143-3

Carona C, Xavier S, Canavarro MC, Fonseca A Self-compassion and complete perinatal mental health in women at high risk for postpartum depression: the mediating role of emotion regulation difficulties. Psychol Psychother. 2022; 95:(2)561-574 https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.12388

Corrigan CP, Kwasky AN, Groh CJ Social Support, Postpartum Depression, and Professional Assistance: A Survey of Mothers in the Midwestern United States. J Perinat Educ. 2015; 24:(1)48-60 https://doi.org/10.1891/1058-1243.24.1.48

Felder JN, Lemon E, Shea K, Kripke K, Dimidjian S Role of self-compassion in psychological well-being among perinatal women. Arch Women Ment Health. 2016; 19:(4)687-690 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-016-0628-2

Fernandes DV, Canavarro MC, Moreira H The role of mothers' self-compassion on mother–infant bonding during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal study exploring the mediating role of mindful parenting and parenting stress in the postpartum period. Infant Ment Health J. 2021; 42:(5)621-635 https://doi.org/10.1002/imhj.21942

Ferrari M, Hunt C, Harrysunker A, Abbott MJ, Beath AP, Einstein DA Self-Compassion Interventions and Psychosocial Outcomes: a Meta-Analysis of RCTs. Mindfulness. 2019; 10:(8)1455-1473 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-019-01134-6

Finlayson K, Crossland N, Bonet M, Downe S What matters to women in the postnatal period: A meta-synthesis of qualitative studies. PLoS One. 2020; 15:(4) https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0231415

Fonseca A, Canavarro MC Exploring the paths between dysfunctional attitudes towards motherhood and postpartum depressive symptoms: the moderating role of self-compassion. Clin Psychol Psychother. 2018; 25:(1)e96-e106 https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2145

Frostadottir AD, Dorjee D Effects of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) on symptom change, mindfulness, self-compassion, and rumination in clients with depression, anxiety, and stress. Front Psychol. 2019; 10:(1099) https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01099

Garcia AS, Born SL, Carotta CL, Lavender-Stott ES, Stella Liu HL Hope and Self-Compassion to Alleviate Parenting Stress in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Fam J (Alex Va). 2022; 30:(2)164-173 https://doi.org/10.1177/10664807211040836

Garcia-Campayo J, Navarro-Gil M, Andrés E, Montero-Marin J, López-Artal L, Demarzo MM Validation of the Spanish versions of the long (26 items) and short (12 items) forms of the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS). Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2014; 12:(1) https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7525-12-4

Germer C, Neff KD Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC). In: Itvzan I (eds). London: Routledge; 2019

Gilbert P Compassion: Conceptualizations, Research and Use in Psychotherapy.London: Routledge; 2005

Gilbert P The origins and nature of compassion focused therapy. Br J Clin Psychol. 2014; 53:(1)6-41 https://doi.org/10.1111/bjc.12043

Gilbert P Evolutionary psychopathology: why isn't the mind designed better than it is?. Br J Med Psychol. 1998; 71:(4)353-373 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8341.1998.tb00998.x

Gilbert P, Catarino F, Duarte C, Matos M, Kolts R, Stubbs J, Ceresatto L, Duarte J, Pinto-Gouveia J, Basran J The development of compassionate engagement and action scales for self and others. J Compassionate Health Care. 2017; 4:(1) https://doi.org/10.1186/s40639-017-0033-3

Gilbert P, McEwan K, Matos M, Rivis A Fears of compassion: development of three self-report measures. Psychol Psychother. 2011; 84:(3)239-255 https://doi.org/10.1348/147608310X526511

Gill C, Watson L, Williams C, Chan SWY Social anxiety and self-compassion in adolescents. J Adolesc. 2018; 69:(1)163-174 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2018.10.004

Guo L, Zhang J, Mu L, Ye Z Preventing Postpartum Depression With Mindful Self-Compassion Intervention. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2020; 208:(2)101-107 https://doi.org/10.1097/NMD.0000000000001096

Haukaas RB, Gjerde IB, Varting G, Hallan HE, Solem S A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing the Attention Training Technique and Mindful Self-Compassion for Students With Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety. Front Psychol. 2018; 9:(827) https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00827

Hwang WY, Choi SY, An HJ Concept analysis of transition to motherhood: a methodological study. Korean J Women Health Nurs. 2022; 28:(1)8-17 https://doi.org/10.4069/kjwhn.2022.01.04

Institute of Health Visiting. What is a Health Visitor?. 2023. https://ihv.org.uk/families/what-is-a-hv/ (accessed 20 July 2023)

Jefferson FA, Shires A, McAloon J Parenting Self-compassion: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Mindfulness. 2020; 11:(9)2067-2088 https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1007/s12671-020-01401-x

Kristensen IH, Simonsen M, Trillingsgaard T, Pontoppidan M, Kronborg H First-time mothers' confidence mood and stress in the first months postpartum. A cohort study. Sex Reprod Healthc. 2018; 17:43-49 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.srhc.2018.06.003

Lennard GR, Mitchell AE, Whittingham K Randomized controlled trial of a brief online self-compassion intervention for mothers of infants: effects on mental health outcomes. J Clin Psychol. 2021; 77:(3)473-487 https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.23068

Lévesque S, Bisson V, Charton L, Fernet M Parenting and Relational Well-being During the Transition to Parenthood: Challenges for First-time Parents. J Child Fam Stud. 2020; 29:(7)1938-1956 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-020-01727-z

Lutkiewicz K, Bieleninik Ł, Cieślak M, Bidzan M Maternal–Infant Bonding and Its Relationships with Maternal Depressive Symptoms, Stress and Anxiety in the Early Postpartum Period in a Polish Sample. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020; 17:(15) https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17155427

McLeish J, Redshaw M Mothers' accounts of the impact on emotional wellbeing of organised peer support in pregnancy and early parenthood: a qualitative study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2017; 17:(1) https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-017-1220-0

Meeussen L, Van Laar C Feeling pressure to be a perfect mother relates to parental burnout and career ambitions. Front Psychol. 2018; 9:(2113) https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02113

Mendes AL, Canavarro MC, Ferreira C The roles of self-compassion and psychological flexibility in the psychological well-being of adolescent girls. Curr Psychol. 2021; 1-10 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-02438-4

Methley AM, Campbell S, Chew-Graham C, McNally R, Cheraghi-Sohi S PICO, PICOS and SPIDER: a comparison study of specificity and sensitivity in three search tools for qualitative systematic reviews. BMC Health Serv Res. 2014; 14:(1) https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-014-0579-0

Mitchell AE, Whittingham K, Steindl S, Kirby J Feasibility and acceptability of a brief online self-compassion intervention for mothers of infants. Arch Women Ment Health. 2018; 21:(5)553-561 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-018-0829-y

Monteiro F, Fonseca A, Pereira M, Canavarro MC Is positive mental health and the absence of mental illness the same? Factors associated with flourishing and the absence of depressive symptoms in postpartum women. J Clin Psychol. 2021; 77:(3)629-645 https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.23081

Monteiro F, Fonseca A, Pereira M, Alves S, Canavarro MC What protects at-risk postpartum women from developing depressive and anxiety symptoms? The role of acceptance-focused processes and self-compassion. J Affect Disord. 2019; 246:(246)522-529 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2018.12.124

Muramoto M, Kita S, Tobe H, Ikeda M, Kamibeppu K The association between self-compassion in the postnatal period and difficult experiences with COVID-19 pandemic-related changes during pregnancy: an observational study for women at 1-month postnatal in Japan. Jpn J Nurs Sci. 2022; 19:(4) https://doi.org/10.1111/jjns.12494

National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools. Quality assessment tool for quantitative studies. 2010. https://merst.healthsci.mcmaster.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/qualilty-assessment-dictionary_2010bb4cc44d23b4446e95ef53f3430f51c6.pdf (accessed 28 March 2023)

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Postnatal Care. 2021. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng194/chapter/recommendations (accessed 23 April 2023)

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. The Perinatal mental health care pathways. 2018. http://perinatal-mental-health-care-pathway.pdf (accessed on 12 February 2024)

Neff K Self-Compassion: An Alternative Conceptualization of a Healthy Attitude Toward Oneself. Self Ident. 2003a; 2:(2)85-101 https://doi.org/10.1080/15298860309032

Neff KD Development and validation of a scale to measure self-compassion. Self Ident. 2003b; 2:(3)223-250 https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1080/15298860309027

Neff KD Self-Compassion: Theory, Method, Research, and Intervention. Annu Rev Psychol. 2023; 74:(1)193-218 https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-032420-031047

Neff KD, Faso DJ Self-compassion and well-being in parents of children with Autism. Mindfulness. 2015; 6:(4)938-947 https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1007/s12671-014-0359-2

Negron R, Martin A, Almog M, Balbierz A, Howell EA Social support during the postpartum period: mothers' views on needs, expectations, and mobilization of support. Matern Child Health J. 2013; 17:(4)616-623 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-012-1037-4

Oyetunji A, Chandra P Postpartum stress and infant outcome: A review of current literature. Psychiatry Res. 2020; 284:(112769) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.112769

Page MJ, McKenzie JE, Bossuyt PM, Boutron I, Hoffmann TC, Mulrow CD, Shamseer L, Tetzlaff JM, Akl EA, Brennan SE The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ. 2021; 372:(71) https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71

Pedro L, Branquinho M, Canavarro MC, Fonseca A Self-criticism, negative automatic thoughts and postpartum depressive symptoms: the buffering effect of self-compassion. J Reprod Infant Psychol. 2019; 37:(5)539-553 https://doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2019.1597969

Psychogiou L, Legge K, Parry E, Mann J, Nath S, Ford T, Kuyken W Self-Compassion and Parenting in Mothers and Fathers with Depression. Mindfulness. 2016; 7:(4)896-908 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-016-0528-6

Public Health England. Health visiting and school nursing service delivery model. Health visiting and school nursing service delivery model. 2021a. http://www.gov.uk (accessed 12 February 2024)

Public Health England. Early years high impact area 1: supporting the transition to parenthood. Early years high impact area 1: Supporting the transition to parenthood. 2021b. http://www.gov.uk (accessed on 12 February 2023)

Public Health England. Healthy child programme: health visitor and school nurse. Healthy child programme: health visitor and school nurse commissioning. 2023. http://www.gov.uk (accessed 12 February 2023)

Pyszkowska A, Rönnlund M Psychological Flexibility and Self-Compassion as Predictors of Well-Being: Mediating Role of a Balanced Time Perspective. Front Psychol. 2021; 12:(671746) https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.671746

Roemer L, Orsillo SM, Salters-Pedneault K Efficacy of an acceptance-based behavior therapy for generalized anxiety disorder: evaluation in a randomized controlled trial. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2008; 76:(6)1083-1089 https://doi.org/10.1037/a0012720

Royal College of Midwifes. The vital role of midwives within maternal mental health care. 2022. https://www.rcm.org.uk/media/6034/rcm-maternal-mental-health-week-2022-1.pdf (accessed 30 November 2022)

Scottish Government. The Universal Health Visiting Pathway in Scotland: pre-birth to pre-school. Universal Health Visiting Pathway in Scotland: pre-birth to pre-school. 2015. http://www.gov.scot) (accessed 05 January 2023)

Scottish Government. Mental Health Strategy 2017-2027. 2017. https://www.gov.scot/publications/mental-health-strategy-2017-2027/ (accessed 26 April 2023)

Siddaway AP, Wood AM, Hedges LV How to Do a Systematic Review: A Best Practice Guide for Conducting and Reporting Narrative Reviews, Meta-Analyses, and Meta-Syntheses. Annu Rev Psychol. 2019; 70:(1)747-770 https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-010418-102803

Vliegen N, Luyten P The role of Dependency and Self-Criticism in the relationship between postpartum depression and anger. Pers Individ Dif. 2008; 45:(1)34-40 https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1016/j.paid.2008.02.015

Whittingham K, Mitchell AE Birth, breastfeeding, psychological flexibility and self-compassion as predictors of mother–infant emotional availability in a cross-sectional study. Infant Ment Health J. 2021; 42:(5)718-730 https://doi.org/10.1002/imhj.21935

Williams PR ONEBird: Integrating Mindfulness, Self-Compassion, and Art Therapy (ONEBird : intégration de la pleine conscience, de l'autocompassion et de l'art-thérapie). Can Art Ther Assoc J. 2018; 31:(1)23-32 https://doi.org/10.1080/08322473.2018.1454687

World Health Organisation. Mental Health and Substance Use: Maternal Mental Health. 2023. https://www.who.int/teams/mental-health-and-substance-use/promotion-prevention/maternal-mental-health (accessed 08 February 2023)

WHO recommendations on maternal and newborn care for a positive postnatal experience. WHO recommendations on maternal and newborn care for a positive postnatal experience. 2022;

Xue S, Gu Q, Zhu K, Jiang J Self-compassion buffers the impact of learned helplessness on adverse mental health during COVID-19 lockdown. J Affect Disord. 2023; 327:(327)285-291 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2023.01.099

Women's experiences of the transition to motherhood and self-compassion

20 September 2024
Review
02 September 2024
Volume 1 · Issue 1

Abstract

Health visitors have a pivotal role in supporting women in their transition to motherhood, equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge to help them cope and thrive. This review was conducted to appraise the current literature around the role of self-compassion in the transition to motherhood and women's experiences of this, as well as the effectiveness of self-compassion on women's psychological wellbeing in this transition. Databases were searched against an inclusion criterion and 11 studies were selected for review. Review findings give insights into how self-compassion practices can aid the transition to motherhood by mitigating psychological challenges and promoting maternal wellbeing and mother–infant bonding. Self-compassion training opportunities should be provided to health visitors and other health professionals working with women from pregnancy, to competently deliver and facilitate such interventions.

The World Health Organization (WHO, 2023) reports that around 13% of postnatal women experience a mental health disorder. In the UK, the Royal College of Midwives (2022) suggests that one in five women experience a mental health problem in the perinatal period.

The transition to motherhood can have a significant impact on women's psychological wellbeing (Meeussen and Van Laar, 2018; Lévesque et al, 2020; Hwang et al, 2022). Despite the postpartum period being characterised as a joyful and happy time, it often involves challenges and life adjustments (Corrigan et al, 2015), including adapting to a new identity and reconstruction of ‘self’ (Meeussen and Van Laar, 2018; Hennekam et al, 2019; Hwang et al, 2022).

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Journal of Child Health and reading some of our peer-reviewed resources for children’s health professionals. To read more, please register today. You’ll enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included

  • Limited access to our clinical or professional articles

  • New content and clinical newsletter updates each month

Register
Or continue by

Signing in with your registered email address

Self-compassion
Transition
Motherhood
Attachment
Health visiting
Bonding