Abstract
We investigate the efficacy of a mental health intervention in fostering resilience, leveraging data from a follow-up of a trial implemented on women suffering depression during pregnancy. We examine resilience in terms of the robustness of mental health and relationship quality in the face of negative shocks. Using two different shocks, pandemic restrictions, and temperature, we find that women who received psychotherapy exhibited significantly reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression, improved spousal relationships, and a markedly lower likelihood of experiencing marital problems during the peak of these shocks, as compared to women who did not receive the intervention. Further results suggest that these improvements are attributable to an enhanced ability to manage stress and worry, and through improved locus of control and problem-solving orientation.
Co-authors: Victoria Baranov, Sonia Bhalotra, Pietro Biroli, Michelle Escobar Carías, and Joanna Maselko