“Am I a good mother?” New insights into postpartum depression

By Béatrice St-Cyr-Leroux Sep 23rd, 2026

Media requests

In 5 seconds A longitudinal study of Quebec families sheds new light on postpartum depression, its duration and potential solutions.

According to Élisabeth Morin, a partner’s support is important, but social support in the broader sense can also play a protective role.
Photo : Getty

Becoming a parent is a major life change. In addition to the fatigue and the changes in daily routine, daunting questions arise: Am I taking good care of my baby? Am I doing the right things? Am I up to the job? It is common for mothers experiencing postpartum depression to doubt themselves.

Elisabeth Morin, then a doctoral student at Université de Montréal, was the first author of an article examining the relationship between postpartum depression and parenting practices, and exploring the potentially moderating effects of breastfeeding and partner support. Morin was supervised by Natalie Castellanos Ryan, a professor at the School of Psychoeducation at Université de Montréal and researcher at Sainte-Justine hospital.

Using data from a major longitudinal study of Quebec women and families, the analysis found that low maternal self-efficacy (a mother’s confidence in her ability to care for her child and support their development) was the factor most strongly associated with depressive symptoms. It was a two-way relationship: low self-efficacy at three months after birth led to more depressive symptoms later on, and conversely depressive symptoms led to low self-efficacy.

Élisabeth Morin, doctoral student at Université de Montréal
Photo : Élisabeth Morin

Protective factors

Breastfeeding had a limited moderating effect; it did not significantly affect the linkage between depressive symptoms and parenting practices. On the other hand, perceived support from the mother’s partner did buffer the association between decreased parental self-efficacy and depressive symptoms. Partner support also appears to reduce the tendency of depressive symptoms to persist or increase over time.

“Partner support doesn’t just mean being there,” Morin explained. “It must take various forms, such as helping to care for the baby, offering emotional support and providing practical help. Very often, the partners also feel overwhelmed by their new role. That’s why it’s important to equip them and remind them that their involvement matters.”

While support from a partner is important, broader social support can also play a protective role, Morin added.

Taking a longer view

According to Morin, currently the coordinator of the simulation laboratory in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, one key takeaway from this study is that postpartum depression doesn’t end on the child’s first birthday.

The study followed approximately 1,500 women and families from pregnancy through several stages of the child’s life—at ages one, two and four, and into adolescence. The long view allowed the researchers to see changes missed by studies limited to the first few months after childbirth.

At 24 months, more than one-third of the women still exhibited high levels of depressive symptoms, and there were still links to perceived maternal efficacy.

“A mother may initially do relatively well but experience difficulties later,” Castellanos Ryan said. “The situation can also evolve as the child goes through the changes of early childhood. We therefore advocate for follow-up beyond the first year. We often think of postpartum as a limited period, but the transition to parenthood involves psychological, social and identity transformations that extend well beyond that.”

Natalie Castellanos Ryan, professor at the School of Psychoeducation at Université de Montréal
Photo : Natalie Castellanos Ryan

A role for psychoeducation

The researchers believe the findings underscore the importance of early interventions that target self-efficacy and emotional regulation, particularly for mothers with limited partner support, as these factors may be associated with persistent postpartum depressive symptoms and suboptimal parenting practices. A larger role for psychoeducation in perinatal care could therefore be beneficial.

“Rather than viewing the mother’s mental health as a problem to be identified once symptoms appear, we can take a proactive approach to boost her sense of efficacy, support both parents and provide longer-term follow-up,” Morin concluded.

Media requests