Autocriticismo, distress e ligação ao bebé em mães de bebés durante a pandemia por covid-19

Abstract

The perinatal period is, for many women, a transitional period with various psychological, physiological, and social challenges. Preliminary studies demonstrate that maternal self compassion can positively affect mother-baby bonding and minimize the likelihood of maternal distress. However, there are several gaps in the literature in this area of knowledge, namely the role of self-criticism in maternal experiences and adaptation to this stage of life. Thus, this study aims to explore the relationship between these variable, maternal distress and attachment to the baby, considering a sample of 156 mothers with babies up to two years old. Distress was assessed using the Anxiety, Depression and Stress Scale (EADS-21), self-criticism and self-compassion using the Function of Self Criticizing and Self-Reassuring Scale (FSCRS), and mother-infant bonding using the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ). The results demonstrate that more negative affective states and higher levels of mother-baby bonding were correlated with higher levels of self-criticism. In spite of that, there was no significant association between attachment to the baby and self-compassion. And the greater the bond between mothers and their babies, the greater their levels of depression, anxiety and stress. Mediation analysis showed that depression significantly mediated the relationship between the mother's experience of feelings of self-inadequacy and mother-baby bonding. In addition, we found that distress mediated the relationship between participants' level of self compassion and their attachment to their children. These results point to the importance of understanding the role of self-criticism, as a vulnerability factor for distress and maladjustment in the perinatal period.

Date of Award	2022
Original language	Portuguese
Supervisor	ANA FILIPA GORDINO BEATO (Supervisor)