MuKi-Project
The MuKi Project: Resources and Risk Factors for Parental Sensitivity in the Context of Postpartum Mental Illness and in a Healthy Control Group
Background
For mothers with postpartum mental disorders, engaging in sensitive interactions with their baby can be a major challenge. Our aim is to gain a deeper understanding of the associations between parental sensitivity, child behavioural and temperamental characteristics, and family and social contextual factors, both in the context of postpartum psychological distress and in a healthy control group. In addition, the MuKi project evaluates a video-based interaction therapy implemented as part of day-clinic treatment for postpartum depression.
Method
The MuKi project is a longitudinal study conducted in a clinical sample (mothers with postpartum mental disorders) and in a healthy control group. Assessments include behavioural observations (e.g. parental sensitivity, child interaction behaviour, attachment patterns) and questionnaire measures (e.g. sociodemographic information, symptomatology, experiences of pregnancy and childbirth, child characteristics, parental stress, partnership quality, and other social contextual factors). In the first project phase, children are aged between 0 and 12 months; at follow-up, between 12 and 24 months. Both mothers and fathers are included in the assessments at each time point.
Pilot Phase
In 2015 and 2016, a pilot study was conducted at the psychiatric mother–child day clinics in Nuremberg and Dresden. This phase served, among other purposes, to test a method adapted for the clinical context to assess parental sensitivity (cf. Heinisch, C. & Galeris, M., Gabler, S., Simen, S., Junge-Hoffmeister, J., Foessel, J., & Spangler, G., under review).
Project Phase 1
From 2016 to the end of 2019, a more comprehensive assessment of maternal sensitivity and potentially influencing factors was carried out at two measurement points (at the beginning and at the end of day-clinic treatment). In parallel, the same variables were assessed in a healthy control group, and fathers were also included in the study. During this phase, the project was supported by funding from the DGSF research program.
Project Phase 2
Since 2019, families have been invited to a follow-up assessment six to twelve months after discharge from the clinic, conducted at our chair. The focus of this phase is on the development of parental sensitivity and the assessment of children’s attachment patterns. The role of fathers is also considered at this measurement point. For this project phase, Dr Christine Heinisch received ETI funding from FAU.
The clinical component of the project at the Psychiatric Mother–Child Day Clinic and Outpatient Service in Nuremberg is funded by the Bavarian State Ministry for Family, Labour and Social Affairs. In the long term, the MuKi project aims to identify additional factors that contribute to sensitive parenting behaviour and to determine how families experiencing postpartum mental illness can be effectively supported.
The Project Team at the Chair
- Dr Christine Heinisch
- Dr Sandra Gabler
- Tina Riedl, MSc
Project Collaboration
The MuKi project is conducted in close cooperation with:
Dr rer. nat. Juliane Junge-Hoffmeister, Dipl.-Psych.
Clinic and Polyclinic for Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics,
University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden
Dr Susanne Simen & Sarah Schwab, MSc
Psychiatric Mother–Child Day Clinic and Outpatient Service,
University Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy,
Paracelsus Medical Private University Nuremberg (PMU)