‘Shame is recognised guilt’: defining postpartum guilt and shame using a content analysis

Abstract

Aims/Background: The first 16 weeks postpartum pose exceptional challenges for new mothers and are associated with heightened emotional distress. Guilt and shame are particularly common in the postpartum period. Previous efforts to better understand how these emotions are defined and conceptualised among new mothers have not focused on a UK-specific population and have not captured experiences which are unique to the first sixteen weeks postpartum. This study aimed to address these research gaps. Design/Methods: Twenty participants self-selected to participate in a semi-structured interview at one time point. Participants were aged 25–35 (Mage = 30.71), and were mainly married (57.14%), primipara (71.43%), undergraduate educated or above (65%) and were in an [associate] professional occupation (60%). A content analysis was then applied to participant-generated definitions of guilt and shame. Results: Guilt was identified as being a behaviourally tied moral emotion, while shame was identified as being a socially tied moral emotion. Four thematic clusters were identified from the content analysis: moral transgressions, pressure and judgement from others, inadequacy, and low mood and avoidance behaviour. The following recommendations are made in light of these findings: Address maladaptive public attitudes about help-seeking for psychological distress; prioritise funding allocation to parenting peer support community projects; and prioritise postpartum mental health training for healthcare practitioners in community settings. Several recommendations are discussed for research, as well. Conclusion: This study generated broad parenting-specific definitions of guilt and shame and used a content analysis to understand, in greater depth, their conceptual overlaps and distinctions.