The experience and even existence of cognitive deficits in the postpartum period is uncertain, with only a few scientific studies, reporting inconsistent results.
Methods:
In this study, we investigate cognition in 86 women (43 first-time mothers 1 year postpartum and 43 non-mothers).
Results:
Mothers and non-mothers showed no significant differences on measures of objective cognition (verbal memory, working memory, and processing speed or theory of mind). Despite the absence of objective differences, mothers self-reported significantly worse subjective memory than non-mothers. To interpret the difference between objective and subjective measures of memory, we investigated relationships between subjective memory, objective memory, and wellbeing. Mothers, but not non-mothers, showed a positive correlation between subjective and objective measures of memory, indicating mothers are “in-tune” with their memory performance. Mothers also demonstrated a positive relationship between subjective memory and wellbeing (sleep, anxiety, and depression), where better wellbeing correlated with higher subjective memory. This relationship was not apparent in non-mothers. The results suggest that poorer sleep, higher anxiety, and higher depression are related to reports of poorer self-reported memory in mothers.
Conclusion:
Our results add to our growing understanding of maternal cognition at 1 year postpartum, with no evidence of cognitive differences between mothers and non-mothers.
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