Exploring the association between maternal mood and self-reports of sleep during the perinatal period

Abstract

Objective: To explore the psychological mechanisms involved in the close association between maternal mood and self-reports of sleep quality during the perinatal period using appraisal theory of emotions.

Design: Repeated measures.

Setting: Antenatal clinics of a health center associated with the Northern Hospital in Melbourne, Australia.

Participants: 122 pregnant women in their third trimester of gestation.

Methods: Participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and an appraisal questionnaire during the third trimester of gestation, within 7 to 10 days after childbirth, and at 10 to 12 weeks postpartum. Correlational and regression analyses were used to explore the associations between sleep reports and appraisals.

Results: Self-reports of poor sleep quality, impaired daytime dysfunction due to poor sleep, and the global PSQI score were associated with a low perceived ability to cope practically and emotionally with motherhood-related issues as well as with negative expectations about the future.

Conclusions: Appraisal dimensions associated with self-reports of poor sleep quality are similar to those related to maternal distress identified by previous research. This finding contributes to a better understanding of the association between self-reports of sleep and maternal mood. Practical implications are discussed.

Keywords: appraisal; maternal mood; perinatal; subjective sleep quality.