The present study has investigated the motherhood experience in the maternal depression context at the end of infant's first year of life. Eighteen mother-infant dyads took part in the study. This study sample was composed by 9 dyads whose mothers had presented depression indicators according to Beck Depression Inventory. An interview concerning infant development and the motherhood experience was carried out with the mothers. A content analysis of the interviews has showed that mothers with indicators of depression reported more dissatisfaction with their infant's development, with the maternal role and with the support received from their partners and from other people. They also showed greater level of stress related to separation from their children due to work, to the occurrence of family and marital conflicts, to difficulties in the handling of the infant and to financial difficulties. These findings point to the importance of early evaluations and interventions in order to minimize the negative effects of maternal depression on the mother-infant dyad.
infants; postpartum de ression; mother; motherhood; mother child relations
