The Lived Experience of Postpartum Distress - An Integrated Approach to Social and Psychological Support in the Workplace and Community
Date
2021
Authors
De Sousa Machado, Tiffany Lee
Editors
Advisors
Lindsay, Wendy
Elsey, Barry
Elsey, Barry
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Thesis
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Abstract
This thesis portfolio consists of chapters which contain two journal articles, and a
third, applied section, which take the reader through a process from ideation, to
formation and finally practical application. It begins with an account of personal
experience with maternal postpartum depression, then explores postpartum
depression and distress beyond the biomedical definitions, concluding with a
number of models within which the lived experience of new mothers with
postpartum distress make sense.
With absent social support at the crux of the lived experience, a review of social
supports in Australia is presented in Paper 1. A narrative review of social support,
including the recommendations in the literature and concluding with
recommendations for best practice, are presented. The research identifies the
common failing to distinguish qualitatively between social support elements and
finds that despite the array of various social supports on offer in Australia,
collectively they fail to address the overall functional support needs of new mothers.
Paper 1 finds that current standards of social support for new mothers experiencing
postpartum distress fail to be adequately addressed in terms of the 5 key areas of
social support: information, appraisal, instrumental, emotional and social
companionship support. Nor are adequate supports being providing for mothers
experiencing postpartum distress (PPDS).
Paper 2 explores PPDS in Sweden, acknowledged as providing world’s best practice
in the areas of information, instruments and social supports postpartum. With PPD
rates similar to those in Australia, and in a context of many political and economic similarities, Sweden provides the perfect context in which to explore what is
missing in terms of support. The researcher spent 3 months in Sweden conducting
qualitative research, participant observation and semi-structured interviews, in
order to provide a comprehensive analysis of the postpartum experience for new
mothers in different national contexts and what, if anything may be missing in terms
of social and other needed support. The research brings to light 4 themes, with
resulting insights through the ethnographic process of cultural submersion. Notions
of cultural embeddedness, equality and freedom are explored. It is found that
despite the provision of substantial state provided social supports the needs of
mothers with PPDS were not adequately addressed. Participants expressed the
desire for trusted, informal relationships with women who had experienced similar
emotions.
Section 3 takes a different approach. Drawing from the psychological research of
papers 1 and 2, the third and final element of the portfolio, further explores the roots
of PPDS, discussing biomedical, feminist and evolutionary perspectives. From this,
a Biocultural Theory is offered as inclusive of these three approaches, establishing
culture as the formidable arena for systemic change. Interviews are held with
various high profile members of corporate Australia, exploring postpartum
experiences from the personal lives, and professional roles of leaders in human
resources, people and culture, equality, public sector employment and as heads of
teams. Through categorisation and analysis of the responses, a model for Workplace
Social Support is designed, and a business case is presented to address the
recommendations found across diverse literature; much of which was confirmed by
papers 1 and 2. The premise is simply, that 1) informal, individualised emotional
and appraisal support are what women seek in the postpartum period, 2) women in Australia and Sweden are likely to return to paid work within 2 years of the birth of
their child, and as such, 3) the workplace is the most obvious place this support
should be offered.
This research aims to do two things: address current postpartum social support
needs based on existing cultural values and practices and explore the capacity for
systemic change through the actions of individuals, corporations and policy makers.
An innovative, first of its kind, business case is presented, established and was set to
be piloted prior to COVID19. The business model includes consultancy, education
and training to corporate Australia, and positions itself within a new social
paradigm. An example of one the Village Foundation’s offerings is the
implementation of a face-to-face mentoring program between experienced
employees, and new employees, in which parents are supported to smoothly
transition, both practically and emotionally, into motherhood and back into paid
work, before, during and after parental leave. The program is supported by
facilitated training through a secure, company specific software application and
communication materials. The case is made to benefit two distinct cohorts – the
individual and related networks, and also Australian industry, which loses over 700
million dollars annually to perinatal mental health related loss of productivity and
staff turnover.
This portfolio follows substantive investigation into the nature of postpartum
depression and postpartum distress, and offers a practical approach, applying the
recommendations and findings of the first two papers in an effective, practical and
sustainable manner.
School/Discipline
Business School
Dissertation Note
Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, Business School, 2021
Provenance
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