Qualitative Study on the Experiences of Mothers 6 to 12 Months After Their Participation in the Mother-baby Groups of the HUGS Study

Postpartum depression affects 15-20% of women in France and is often associated with impaired mother-infant interactions, a disruption observed in up to 73% of cases that can adversely influence both short and long-term child development. Although standard treatments effectively reduce depressive symptoms, they frequently fail to enhance the quality of the maternal bond, underscoring the need for interventions specifically targeted at early relational dynamics. The HUGS program (Happiness, Understanding, Giving, and Sharing), a brief cognitive behavioral therapy originally validated by Professor Jeannette Milgrom's Australian team, has been culturally adapted for the French context to improve mother-infant relationships. The ancillary HUGS-QUALI study employs a qualitative approach by conducting in-depth interviews with mothers 6 to 12 months following their participation in HUGS mother-baby groups, implemented across several French maternity centers.

Inclusion criteria

• Women who participated in the HUGS mother-baby groups of the HUGS study (at various recruitment sites: Toulouse University Hospital (Paule de Viguier Maternity), Joseph Ducuing Maternity in Toulouse, and Bordeaux Maternity) and who have completed their follow-up as part of the original study.

Exclusion criteria

• Women refusing to participate in the study.
• Women who did not participate in the HUGS group of the HUGS study.