Postpartum women who develop greater psychological flexibility experience improved emotional well-being and reduced distress, according to new research led by Alexa Bonacquisti, PhD, PMH-C, an assistant professor of Clinical Psychology at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM).
The study, recently published in PLOS One, demonstrates how mindfulness and acceptance-based processes like cognitive defusion (CD) contribute to better mental health outcomes during the postpartum period.
Up to 20% of women experience postpartum depression, a condition that can significantly impact maternal and child well-being. This research suggests that psychological flexibility—a skill that involves embracing thoughts and emotions while acting in alignment with personal values—may be a key mechanism in addressing these challenges. The findings also show how this process mediates the benefits of mental health treatment, providing new insights into how interventions like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can be tailored to meet the unique needs of new mothers.
“This research represents over two years of work examining how psychological flexibility and mindfulness can improve postpartum mental health,” said Bonacquisti. “Our findings offer a strong foundation to begin exploring how these concepts can be piloted in real-world settings, with the ultimate goal of developing treatments that are both accessible and effective for postpartum women.”
The study utilized a cross-sectional design and recruited 266 postpartum women through online social media platforms, including postpartum support and breastfeeding groups. Using validated self-report measures, researchers examined psychological flexibility, mindfulness, cognitive defusion, and other acceptance-based processes to assess their relationship with well-being and emotional distress. Key tools included the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II, the Philadelphia Mindfulness Scale, and the Inventory of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms. Data analysis revealed significant links between acceptance-based processes and postpartum outcomes, with “psychological flexibility, in particular, strongly associated with both improved well-being and reduced emotional distress.”
Future research will explore how psychological flexibility impacts other postpartum outcomes, including maternal-child attachment and family dynamics.
For now, this study provides a compelling case for using acceptance-based therapies to address the complex needs of postpartum women.
For the past 125 years, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has trained thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists who practice a “whole person” approach to care—treating people, not just symptoms. PCOM, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, operates three campuses (PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, and school psychology. PCOM students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, PCOM provides care to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
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