This study examined the influence of two personality variables, Dependency and Self-Criticism, on mothers' postpartum adjustment. These dimensions were also examined in relation to social support and infant characteristics. During pregnancy, 204 primiparous women completed measures of Dependency and Self-Criticism, depressive symptomatology and mood, and social support. A subsample of 72 women, identified as Dependent, Self-Critical, Mixed, or Control, were assessed at 6 weeks and 3 months postpartum on measures of depressive symptoms, mood, and maternal characteristics. Infant measures were obtained at 6 weeks and 3 months. Multiple regression analyses revealed that Self-Criticism was a stronger predictor of depressive symptomatology and mood than Dependency and predicted a wider range of problems in maternal role functioning. Social support and infant characteristics made significant contributions to postpartum adjustment, and maternal depressive symptoms predicted less optimal infant socioemotional development. Results suggest the need to modify current conceptualizations of Dependency and Self-Criticism. Implications for identification and treatment of women vulnerable to adjustment problems during the transition to motherhood were discussed.

The aim of this research was to examine differences in general nutrition knowledge and prenatal sources of infant feeding information among women planning to feed breast milk, breast-milk substitutes, or a combination of breast milk and breast-milk substitutes. Subjects completed a demographic survey, a test of nutrition knowledge, and a questionnaire on sources of infant feeding information. There were no statistical differences in age, education, and nutrition knowledge scores among women in the three groups. A significant relationship was observed between education and nutrition knowledge; women who had attended college courses scored higher.003) on the nutrition knowledge test than those who had not attended. Health care providers (82%) and reading materials (82%) were the most frequently cited sources of infant feeding information. While general nutrition knowledge appears to be positively related to education, it does not appear to influence the infant feeding decision. / Department of Family and Consumer Sciences

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Michigan State University. School of Social Work, 2008. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on July 7, 2009) Includes bibliographical references. Also issued in print.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1977.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1977.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1981.

Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1992.

Thesis (M.N.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2002. / Bibliography: leaves 102-112.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1981.