How ‘HOPE’ful is the academic literature discourse in perinatal mental health?
Creators: name: Viler, Emily Rose
name: Blythe, Stacy
name: Kemp, Lynn
Publisher: name: OSF Registries
Year: 2023
Subjects: subject: Health Psychology
subject: Developmental Psychology
subject: Social and Behavioral Sciences
subject: Psychology
subject: FOS: Psychology

description: Mental health difficulties during the perinatal period have been significantly researched, however, there is a lack of literature on positive mental health and how it is supported throughout this period. Sexton et al. (2015) notes that during the perinatal period, mothers struggle with mental health causing a multitude of impacts on their behaviour, cognition, emotions and physiology. Internationally, it has been found that approximately one in five women experience mental health difficulties within the first year of their child’s life (Johnson et al., 2012). The impact of this is two-fold with literature claiming that mental health difficulties place both the mother and child’s health at risk, negatively affecting maternal-infant bonding and the development of the baby whilst in-utero (Carlin et al., 2021; Racine et al., 2021). Over the years, a significant breakthrough has occurred regarding the impacts of childhood adversity on health, wellbeing and adulthood. A study in the late 90s found an extensive association between adverse experiences in childhood and how these impact individuals during adulthood (Felitti et al., 1998). This led to the formation of the term, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Studies have indicated that ACEs result in mental health difficulties such as depression, substance abuse and self-harm, amongst others (Emerging Minds, 2020). An interrelated connection is being consistently highlighted in the literature between the severity and number of ACEs and the impact this has on poor mental health in adulthood (Strompolis et al., 2017). In perinatal mental health, the role of ACEs has been understudied and overlooked. However, there has been recent development in the literature highlighting that ACEs may result in the risk of mental health difficulties during the perinatal period (Osofsky et al., 2021). On the other hand, there has been a steady emergence in the literature on Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) which refer to those events in childhood where feelings and experiences of safety in the family are encouraged, particularly in talking about certain emotions and hardships (Bethell et al., 2019). A study conducted by Christina Bethell, the pioneer of PCEs, demonstrated that those who report exposure to several PCEs showed lower levels of poor mental health in adulthood (Bethell et al., 2019). Despite there being little knowledge known regarding how PCEs mitigate ACEs, it has been found that when fostered in early years, PCEs enable children to develop resilience and growth (Daines et al., 2021). The impact of these positive experiences carry out to adulthood as a mother’s memories of childhood become particularly salient during the perinatal period (Atzl et al., 2019). Despite research highlighting the benefits of PCEs, there is very little literature addressing how positive experiences during a mother’s childhood may mitigate the impact of ACEs in the perinatal period. The current lack of literature contributes to the absence of policy making for positive perinatal mental health. It is therefore essential to understand the position of the academic literature regarding positive perinatal mental health as it directly influences the policies that shape the perinatal mental health service system. On this note, current research is needed in understanding the role of PCEs and the significant importance they have in supporting and building positive mental health in the perinatal period.