Summary Of Cheryl Beck's Postpartum Depression Theory

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Beck’s Theory of Postpartum Depression Theory is the foundation of nursing, and it is important to allow theory to guide nursing practice. Professionally, “nursing applies conceptual frameworks to guide practice through describing and predicting specific behavior” (Marsh, 2013, p. 50). Cheryl Beck’s middle range theory of postpartum depression: Teetering on the Edge was developed in 1993. It provides a framework for recognizing signs and symptoms of postpartum depression, as well as navigating through its symptoms. The purpose of this paper is to analyze, evaluate, and discuss how the theory of comfort could be applied in nursing practice for the role of the family nurse practitioner in diverse populations. Analysis of the theory One in five women will experience postpartum depression (Albert, 2002). Not until 1950, in the United States, was there acknowledgment that some women …show more content…

After completing a literature review on PPD, she realized that the availability of qualitative research was limited. She devised a study, using the grounded theory method, in which “the purpose of this study was to investigate the nature of the specific social psychological problem in postpartum depression and the social phycological process used to resolve this fundamental problem” (Beck, 1993, p. 43). This was accomplished by obtaining data through observation in a postpartum depression group over an 18-month period, taped interviews with mothers attending the support group and analyzing the data (Beck, 1993). After analyzing the data collected, loss of control was the main perceived problem that these women encountered. Beck identified a four-stage process of PPD which include: encountering terror, dying of self, struggling to survive and regaining control (Beck,

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