Changes in Adaptive Resources and Postpartum Distress: A Longitudinal Study from Pregnancy to Early Motherhood
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5708/EJMH.21.2026.0064Keywords:
postpartum distress, pregnancy, Healthy Adult strengths, selfregulation, adaptive resourcesAbstract
Introduction: The transition from pregnancy to early motherhood may increase vulnerability to psychological distress. Although prenatal distress and interpersonal support are established correlates of postpartum adjustment, less is known about broader adaptive strengths and their changes over time.
Aim: This longitudinal study examined whether Healthy Adult mode strengths during pregnancy and changes in these strengths were associated with postpartum psychological distress beyond prenatal distress, perceived social support, relationship satisfaction, age, and education.
Methods: The analytical sample comprised 102 women assessed during pregnancy (T1) and six weeks to six months postpartum (T2). Psychological distress was measured with the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales, and adaptive functioning with four domains of Bernstein’s Strengths Scale: Selfdirectedness, Self-regulation, Connectedness, and Transcendence. Five-step hierarchical regression models examined baseline strengths and T2–T1 change scores.
Results: Self-directedness and Self-regulation declined significantly from T1 to T2, whereas distress did not change significantly at the group level. Prenatal distress alone explained 28.4% of the variance in postpartum distress. Baseline Self-directedness, Self-regulation, Connectedness, and Transcendence were associated with lower postpartum distress, βs = −.28 to −.35. Strength-change scores explained an additional 3.1% for Self-directedness, 10.7% for Self-regulation, and 3.9% for Connectedness, but only 1.8% for Transcendence, which was nonsignificant. Final models explained 38.7%–47.0% of postpartum distress variance; the Self-regulation model was strongest, R² = .470, adjusted R² = .431.
Conclusions: Postpartum distress was associated with prenatal distress, baseline adaptive resources, and concurrent changes in selected strengths. These findings are preliminary and do not establish temporal or causal effects.
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Published 2026-10-20
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