產後感到憂鬱的母親，她的內心世界是怎樣的呢？她如何看待自己、旁人與教養這件事？內在的心理狀態與外在的身體動作是什麼樣的對應關係？此外，這樣的對應關係，如何被文化與社會因素所影響？對內在狀態的改變又有什麼幫助？本研究企圖了解在台灣，產後感到憂鬱的母親，她的內在心理結構與動作特質；以及奠基於對此的了解，如何幫助提升心理健康。本研究計畫因此分為三部分。首先將以個人建構心理學（personal construct psychology）為基礎，以質化與量化混合的凱式方格法（repertory grid technique）探究產後自覺憂鬱的母親們圍繞在「身為母親」這個主題上的心理結構。其次，藉由對身體動作的紀錄與分析，探索其心理結構與動作特質之間可能的對應關係。最後，整理出以上兩部分的研究成果，運用在舞蹈治療團體中，並檢視其有效性。其在理論上的研究貢獻，為同時從身體與心理兩個層面理解產後憂鬱的台灣女性，在實務上，也增進相關實務工作者與社會大眾在文化脈絡中對產後憂鬱的理解，也提出從動作層面出發協助產後憂鬱的可能，並讓產後女性做更有效的自我照護。
How do first-time mothers who consider themselves as depressed perceive themselves and the important others surrounding by the issue of raising a child? Do their body movement represent and reflect the psychological process under the influence of social and cultural factors? How does this representation/reflection benefit the improvement of first-time mothers’ mental health? This research attempts to explore first-time mothers’ psychological construct system in terms of being a mother and their movement characteristics. In addition, based on these understanding, first-time mothers’ mental health can be supported and improved. This research will be accomplished through three stages. First, exploring first-time mothers’ psychological construct system by adopting repertory grid technique based on personal construct psychology. Second, possible corresponding relationships between psychological construct system and movement can be identified through videotaping, coding and analysing body movement. Lastly, a dance therapy group will be facilitated based on the results of the above two research stages, and its effectiveness will be examined. It is hoped that this research can theoretically contribute to further understanding of first-time mother with postpartum depression in Taiwan from body and mind aspects at the same time. Practically, this research can improve both first-time mothers’ and mental health care professionals’ understanding of postnatal depression in the context of culture so that they can acquire more ability to take care of themselves and others. Moreover, this research proposes an alternative facilitation for supporting women with postnatal depression.
