Clinical Nursing
Mediating role of alexithymia in the relationship between self-compassion and postpartum depression in premature mothers separated from their infants
Huang Kaihui, Han Jianli, Xiang Cong, Xiang Rungeng
Published 2022-07-11
Cite as Chin J Prac Nurs, 2022, 38(20): 1540-1545. DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn211501-20211125-03243
Abstract
ObjectiveTo investigate the status and correlation of 6 weeks postpartum self-compassion, alexithymia and postpartum depression in preterm mothers separated from their infants.
MethodsConvenience sampling method was used to select 300 premature mothers separated from their infants in Binzhou Medical University Hospital as the research objects. A cross-sectional survey was conducted by the general data, the Chinese version of the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS-C), the Chinese version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS).
ResultsThe total scores of SCS-C, TAS-20 and EPDS at 6 weeks postpartum were (19.94 ± 2.64), (48.74 ± 3.87) and (10.61 ± 3.07) respectively. The self-compassion ability was negatively correlated with alexithymia and postpartum depression (r = -0.365, -0.313, both P<0.01), alexithymia was positively correlated with postpartum depression (r = 0.657, P<0.01). Alexithymia played a partial mediating role in the relationship between self-compassion and postpartum depression, accounting for 72.83% of the total effect.
ConclusionsSelf-compassion and alexithymia are both important factors affecting postpartum depression in premature mothers separated from their infants. By enhancing emotional cognition and processing ability of premature mothers, self-compassion ability can be improved to reduce the incidence of postpartum depression.
Key words:
Premature birth; Mother-infant separation; Alexithymia; Postpartum depression; Self-compassion
Contributor Information
Huang Kaihui
Department of Obstetrics, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou 256600, China
Han Jianli
Department of Obstetrics, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou 256600, China
Xiang Cong
Department of Neurology, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou 256600, China
Xiang Rungeng
Department of Paediatrics, Binzhou Best Children′s Hospital, Binzhou 256600, China