The objective of this study is to examine the impact of a home-based peer support intervention for mothers affected by postpartum depression (PPD) and for their infants.
This controlled study will help establish the link between support for maternal caregiving, maternal-infant interaction, infant neuroendocrinology and infant cognitive and social development. The primary hypothesis predicts that home-based peer support will improve maternal-infant interactions. Secondary hypotheses predict that home-based peer support will: improve infants' cognitive development; improve infants' social development; decrease average daily salivary cortisol levels in infants; reduce maternal depressive symptomatology; and improve maternal perceptions of social support.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
60
12 weeks of home visits by peer mentor recovered from PPD and Keys to Caregiving (NCAST, 1990) program
maternal-infant interaction
Time frame: 12 months
cognitive development
Time frame: 12 months
social development
Time frame: 12 months
salivary cortisol
Time frame: 12 months
depressive symptomatology
Time frame: 12 months
social support
Time frame: 12 months
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.