Graduation Date
Fall 2024
Document Type
Project
Program
Master of Arts degree with a major in Psychology, option Academic Research
Program
Academic Research
Committee Chair Name
Amanda Hahn
Committee Chair Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Amber Gaffney
Keywords
Postpartum depression, Infants, Bonding
Subject Categories
Psychology
Abstract
Infant cuteness (facial cuteness in particular) is linked to evolutionary adaptations to motivate caretaking and protective behaviors (Kringelbach et al., 2008). Previous neuroimaging work has demonstrated that infant cuteness activates reward-related regions in the brain (Glocker et al., 2009) and behavioral work suggests that the reward value of cuteness is linked to maternal tendencies (Hahn et al., 2015). It is estimated that 15% of new mothers experience postpartum depression (PPD) (Wisner et al., 2013), which impacts the mesolimbic system and is linked to anhedonia (i.e., reduced ability to experience pleasure). Based on the above literature, this study used a simulated mediation analysis (N = 100) to assess the direct and indirect effects of PPD on the maternal-infant bond through reward-related responses to infant facial cuteness. Simulated results demonstrated a significant indirect effect of reduced reward-related responses to infant stimuli when PPD risk symptoms scored high, thus leading to negatively impacted maternal-infant bonding scores. This simulation suggests important implications if replicated with real-world data.
Citation Style
APA
Recommended Citation
Harp, Caitlin, "Simulated effects of postpartum depression on maternal-infant bonding: Mediated by reward-related responses to infant facial cuteness" (2024). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 796.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/796