Role of Mindfulness between Early Maladaptive Schemas and Post-Partum Depression: a Ray of Hope

Abstract

Mothers of a newborn face a lot of physical and psychological challenges and early maladaptive schemas play a significant part in determining long-term negative consequences such as post-partum depressive symptoms. This research proposed that mindfulness could play a positive role between the early schemas and post-partum depressive symptoms among new mothers. Data was collected from a sample of 170 mothers who gave birth from February 2020 to August 2020. The young schema questionnaire-SF, Edinburgh postnatal depression scale, and the Kentucky inventory for mindfulness scale were administered. Study findings show mindfulness mediates the association between five sub-domains of maladaptive schemas namely impaired autonomy, impaired limits, disconnection, over-vigilance, other-directedness, and post-partum depression. Findings indicate that mindfulness could be a contributing factor against postpartum symptoms and play significant role in mother and infant’s well-being during the challenging time of transition.