Problemsolving appraisal and the prediction of depression during pregnancy and in the postpartum period

Based on lhe presumed mood-regulatory properties of the problem orientation component de-lineated in the social problem-solving model, a positive problem orientation was predicted to influence ongoing levels of positive and negative ajfect during pregnancy. Higher levels of pos-itive affect and lower levels of negative affect would then in turn predict depression during pregnancy and in the postparium period. This hypothesis was tested in i(X) women. Path iinatvses supported the predicted relation of the problem orientation components to trait affectivity. and indirectly to peripartum and postpartum depression. Trait negative and positive affectivity was also associated with peripartum depression, and indirectly with postpartum depression, as ex-pected. Implications for the integrated social problem-solving model are di.scuxsed. Recommen-dations for assessment and counseling interx-entions with expectant women are offered. E ffective skills in solving interpersonal and social problems en-countered in everyday life are considered vital to personal ad-justment and well-being (McFall. 1982). Theoretical models of problem-solving ability posit that certain cognitive-behavioral skills (Nezu & D'Zurilla. 1989) and optimistic appraisals of the self and one's ability (Heppner & Krauskopf, 1987) are important char-acteristics in the problem solving process. Contemporary descriptiv