Uma percentagem relevante é que 10% a 25% das mães são vulneráveis à depressão perinatal, que pode surgir durante a gravidez e prolongar-se até um ano após o parto. Tristeza persistente, fadiga, alterações no sono e apetite ou perda de interesse são sintomas frequentes, com impacto na saúde emocional da mãe e do bebé. No entanto, pouco se sabe sobre como estes sintomas evoluem ao longo do tempo. Com vista a aprofundar este domínio, um estudo liderado por Maria Spinelli foi o primeiro a acompanhar a trajetória da depressão perinatal em quatro momentos distintos – no final da gravidez, aos 3 meses, aos 6 meses e aos 9 meses após o parto. O estudo centrou-se numa população não clínica e considerou dois fatores-chave como influenciadores: o apoio do parceiro e a Sensibilidade ao Processamento Sensorial (SPS) – uma característica que torna algumas mulheres mais reativas a estímulos internos e externos. Os resultados mostraram que o humor decai logo após o parto, mas tende a melhorar. A sensibilidade elevada pode aumentar o risco de depressão, enquanto o apoio do parceiro na gravidez tem um efeito protetor. A investigação apontou ainda que a depressão pré-natal pode influenciar o estado emocional do bebé, sobretudo a sua resposta ao medo. Assim, este estudo pode ajudar a criar programas de apoio para mães, promovendo um melhor ajustamento emocional para elas e para os seus bebés. Este estudo foi publicado na revista científica Frontiers in Psychology, no artigo Maternal depression during the perinatal period: the role of Sensory Processing Sensitivity and social support and its impact on infants' negative affect, no âmbito do projeto de investigação 131/20 - From inner to dyadic connection: The effect of mindfulness intervention on mother-infant bio-behavioural synchrony, apoiado pela Fundação BIAL.
ABSTRACT
Background
The perinatal period is marked by significant physiological and psychological changes, making it a challenging time for many women. While some women are more vulnerable to depression during this period, research on perinatal depression trajectories and contributing factors remains mixed. This longitudinal study investigated how maternal depression changes during the perinatal period in a non-clinical sample, exploring the roles of individual factors, such as Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS), and contextual factors, such as global partner support. Based on the prenatal programming hypothesis, we also examined the role of prenatal depression on infants’ negative affect temperament as an early marker of emotional adjustment.
Method
Eighty-eight mothers (M = 35.03 years, SD = 4.92) completed online questionnaires during pregnancy, at 3, 6, and 9 months post-partum. Depression was assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, partner support was measured with an ad-hoc scale. SPS was reported during pregnancy using the Highly Sensitive Person Scale. At 3 months post-partum, infants’ negative affect (M = 3.07 months, SD = 0.26) was measured using the Infant Behavior Questionnaire. Latent growth analyses and multivariate regression models were used to analyze the data.
Results
Depression showed a significant linear decrease, with higher symptoms between pregnancy and 3 months postpartum, although overall levels were low and consistent with non-clinical populations. High SPS predicted greater depressive symptoms across all time points. Pregnancy partner support was associated with lower depressive symptoms during pregnancy (β = −0.42, p < 0.01) and at 6 months postpartum (β = −0.32, p = 0.03). Prenatal depression significantly predicted infants’ negative affect (β = 0.34, p = 0.03), particularly the fear temperament subscale (β = 0.46, p = 0.001), accounting for 22% of its variance.
Discussion
The findings clarify that a decline in mood is common in non-clinical populations during the perinatal period, with mothers high in sensitivity and mothers with lower partner support being more vulnerable to experience negative feelings. Moreover, prenatal maternal depression acts as a prenatal stressor, increasing infants’ reactivity to stimuli, as reflected in heightened fear. Implications for tailored parenting programs are discussed.
