Janet Wagner

Abstract

Postpartum depression was thought to be an important component of maternity blues and was the factor explored in this study. Sleep was hypothesized as a factor affecting either the occurrence or severity of postpartum depression. Hence, the purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between sleep deprivation and postpartum depression.

Twenty patients were interviewed one to three weeks prior to their expected dates of delivery. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory Depression scale was administered during the interview and each patient kept a record of her hours of sleep during the following week. Each patient again kept a record of her hours of sleep for the first five to seven days after delivery until the researcher visited the patient in her home and re-administered the Depression scale.

Regression and correlation coefficients were computed for the following pairs of variables: (1) prepartum Depression scale T scores and prepartum sleep record averages, (2) postpartum Depression scale T scores and postpartum sleep record averages and (3) the difference between prepartum and postpartum Depression scale T scores and sleep deprivation for each patient. None of the regression or correlation coefficients were statistically significant. The findings of this study do not support the hypothesis asserting a relationship between postpartum depression and sleep deprivation.

LLU Discipline

Nursing

Department

Nursing

School

Graduate School

First Advisor

Betty T. Lonnstrom

Second Advisor

Clarice W. Woodward

Third Advisor

Ray B. Evans

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Level

M.S.

Year Degree Awarded

1969

Date (Title Page)

1-1969

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Puerperal Disorders; Sleep Deprivation; Depression

Type

Thesis

Page Count

vii; 66

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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