Qualitative Study on the Experiences of Mothers 6 to 12 Months After Their Participation in the Mother-baby Groups of the HUGS Study

Overview

The HUGS-QUALI study is a qualitative investigation that explores the experiences of mothers who participated in HUGS mother-baby therapy groups. Conducted 6 to 12 months after the intervention, the study aims to understand how this culturally adapted therapy influences the bond between mothers and their infants and affects their daily lives. By collecting detailed personal stories through in-depth interviews, the study seeks to understand if the adapted HUGS program effectively support French mothers in improving their interactions with their babies, when facing postpartum depression.

Postpartum depression affects 15-20% of women in France and is often associated with impaired mother-infant interactions, a disruption observed in up to 73% of cases that can adversely influence both short and long-term child development. Although standard treatments effectively reduce depressive symptoms, they frequently fail to enhance the quality of the maternal bond, underscoring the need for interventions specifically targeted at early relational dynamics. The HUGS program (Happiness, Understanding, Giving, and Sharing), a brief cognitive behavioral therapy originally validated by Professor Jeannette Milgrom's Australian team, has been culturally adapted for the French context to improve mother-infant relationships. The ancillary HUGS-QUALI study employs a qualitative approach by conducting in-depth interviews with mothers 6 to 12 months following their participation in HUGS mother-baby groups, implemented across several French maternity centers.

Conditions