Social problem solving as a moderator in the relationship between pregnancy-specific stressors and depressive symptoms

Depression is a leading cause of disability among women in the contemporary world. This study attempts to extend previous findings that revealed that social problem-solving ability is an important moderator variable in the relationship between stressors and depressive symptoms by investigating this relationship in a pregnant women population and broadening the concept of stressors to include pregnancy-specific hassles and negative life events. Moderator hypothesis is proposed to highlight the notion that under similar levels of stress, more effective problem solvers are less likely to experience depressive symptoms than less effective problem solvers. This hypothesis was evaluated in a sample of 150 low socio-economic status pregnant women, predominantly of African American ethnicity. Participants were asked to complete a series of questionnaires, which included the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the Life Experiences Survey, thePregnancy Experiences Scale, and the Social Problem Solving Inventory-Revised. Negative life events and pregnancy-specific hassles explained approximately equalamount of variance in depressive symptoms in pregnant women. Among the social problem-solving components, negative problem orientation (NPO) was the most strongly associated with depressive symptoms, followed by positive problem orientation (PPO), avoidance style (AS), and impulsivity-carelessness style (ICS). Rational problem-solving style (RPS) was not associated with depressive symptoms in this study. All four problemsolving components (PPO, NPO, ICS, and AS) improved prediction of depressive symptoms above and beyond association between depressive symptoms and relationship status, first pregnancy, depression medication, negative life events, and pregnancyspecific stressors. None of the social problem-solving components moderated the relationship between pregnancy-specific stressors and depressive symptoms in this study. Results of this study hold several implications for the clinical care of pregnant women. Women who score high on negative life events and/or pregnancy-specific stressors are particularly vulnerable to develop depressive symptoms and need to be monitored. Also, social problem solving strategies of pregnant women need to be evaluated. Group format skills training could be implemented for pregnant women who are not currentlydisplaying depressive symptoms and who score high on maladaptive problem-solving dimensions. Individual or group problem-solving therapy could be employed in pregnant women who have already developed depressive symptoms.