­­Postpartum depression: The role of time attitudes in early pregnancy

Background Postpartum depression is a significant mental health disorder that can have profound and detrimental effects on both the mother and child. Early intervention, facilitated by a comprehensive understanding of the risk factors associated with this condition, is crucial for mitigating the onset of postpartum depressive symptoms. Methods The aim of this prospective cohort study was to investigate the effect of time perspective and circadian rhythm disturbances on postpartum depressive symptoms. Participants were 126 women. They were examined in the first trimester of pregnancy and during the first 3 months after delivery. At each stage, the women completed questionnaires—the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory, the Dark Future Scale, the Biological Rhythms Interview for Assessment in Neuropsychiatry, and the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale. The participants also wore an actigraphy monitor for 1 week. Results The results showed that fatalistic time perspective, subjectively perceived disturbances of circadian rhythms, and a tendency to focus on a negative future in the first trimester were associated with increased symptoms of postpartum depression. Moreover, the association of fatalistic and future negative perspectives with symptoms of postpartum depression was explained by the perception of disturbances of circadian rhythms. There were no significant relationships between objective and self-report measures of circadian rhythm disturbances. Conclusions The findings suggest that reducing fatalism and a negative future time perspective during the first trimester may mitigate perceived disturbances in circadian rhythms, thereby potentially decreasing the risk of postpartum depressive symptoms.