The Relationship between Maternal Confidence, Infant Temperament, and Postpartum Depression

BACKGROUND: Although several studies have emphasized the correlation of infant temperament and maternal confidence, this topic has not been explored in different culture and geographical contexts. We study association of maternal confidence, infant temperament, and postpartum depression among postnatal mothers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Sriramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, India from July 2017 to May 2018. The sample population comprised of mothers at 6 weeks of postnatal period attending the Immunization Clinic. The instruments used were standardized Karitane's Parenting Confidence Scale (KPCS), Bates Infant Characteristics Questionnaire (BICQ), and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from postnatal mothers. Data were analyzed with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) ver. 19, using analysis of variance, correlation coefficient, multivariable regression. RESULTS: In this study, 64.40% of the population had high level of confidence and 80% postnatal mothers had no depression. A significant association (t(2)= 18.15, p = 0.001) was seen between maternal confidence, family support, and place of living. Regression analysis showed that confidence of postnatal mothers has a significant influence (t(2)= 12.48, p < 0.005) on infant temperament. CONCLUSIONS: Two-third of the postnatal mothers had high confidence level with no depression. A positive correlation between postpartum depression and infant temperament was found to be associated with income, parity, and maternal confidence. A significant association was also seen of infant temperament with type of family, income, place of living, and sex of the baby.