Self-Efficacy and Postpartum Depression Teaching by Perinatal Nurses in a Rural Setting: A Replication Study

Abstract

Perinatal nurses in rural hospitals can play an important role in providing postpartum depression education to new mothers. Guided by Self-Efficacy Theory, this replication study used a self-report instrument to survey perinatal nurses' self-efficacy in postpartum depression teaching, self-esteem, stigma and attitudes toward seeking help for mental illness. Thirty-eight perinatal nurses employed in a rural hospital participated in the study. The results indicated perinatal nurses' postpartum depression teaching behaviors were associated with: self-efficacy related to postpartum depression teaching; social persuasion by a supervisor; prior mastery of teaching on other postpartum care topics; and vicarious experiences of observing peers teach about postpartum depression. Perinatal nurses with positive attitudes toward receiving psychological help were more likely to provide postpartum depression education.