UNRAVELLING POTENTIAL COPING IN POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION POPULATION: A QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS

Abstract

Postpartum period entails many physiological, psychological and emotional changes in mothers. It is a period of variety of readjustments and challenges. During this period a diagnosis of postpartum depression makes it more challenging for the mother to cope with every day motherhood roles and responsibilities, stressors and maintaining a sound mental health. The current study aimed at unravelling the potential coping that is present in postpartum depression diagnosed mothers. The study also explores the interplay between different types of coping. The sample consisted of 20 participants (N=20), female patients diagnosed with postpartum depression. Sample was selected through purposive and convenience sampling. Pearson’s product moment correlation was applied to identify significant relationship between the variables. Findings suggest that there is a significant positive relationship between emotion- focused coping and problem-focused coping (r = .68; p<0.01); no significant relationship was found between problem-focused coping and avoidant coping (r = .09; p>0.01). Lastly, a significant positive relationship was found between emotion-focused coping and avoidant coping (r = .49; p<0.01). The findings derived from the raw data and scoring according to the Brief COPE stated that, emotion-focused coping is the primary coping used by postpartum depression diagnosed mothers.