The complex effects of maternal expectations on postpartum depressive symptoms: when does a protective factor become a risk factor?

The present study assessed the effects of several prenatal maternal expectations on postpartum depression (PPD), while considering two relevant factors - incongruence between planned and actual birth and the rigidity of the birth plan - that can affect whether maternal expectations act as protective factors or risk factors for PPD.Primiparous women (N = 527) were recruited to a longitudinal study about women's birth choices and experiences. At...