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Becoming a parent is a major life change. In addition to fatigue and changes in daily routine, daunting questions arise: Am I taking good care of my baby? Am I doing the right things? Am I up to the job? It is common for mothers experiencing postpartum depression to doubt themselves.

Elisabeth Morin, then a doctoral student at Université de Montréal, was the first author of an article published in Maternal Health, Neonatology and Perinatology examining the relationship between postpartum depression and parenting practices and exploring the potentially moderating effects of breastfeeding and partner support. Morin was supervised by Natalie Castellanos Ryan, a professor at the School of Psychoeducation at Université de Montréal and a researcher at Sainte-Justine hospital.

Using data from a major longitudinal study of Quebec women and families, the analysis found that low maternal self-efficacy (a mother's confidence in her ability to care for her child and support their development) was the factor most strongly associated with depressive symptoms. It was a two-way relationship: Low self-efficacy at 3 months after birth led to more depressive symptoms later on, while depressive symptoms led to low self-efficacy.

Breastfeeding had a limited moderating effect; it did not significantly affect the link between depressive symptoms and parenting practices. On the other hand, perceived support from the mother's partner did buffer the association between decreased parental self-efficacy and depressive symptoms.

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