Perceptions of Performance in Pregnancy and Postpartum

Pregnant and postpartum individuals have long reported noticeable declines in cognitive ability. Despite widespread anecdotal evidence, the scholarly literature on such phenomena remains inconclusive; while some studies have identified marginal objective differences in memory and cognitive performance, others argue that the variation is primarily a matter of perception. This study aimed to contribute to a clearer understanding of beliefs surrounding pregnancy-induced cognitive deficits and the factors that shape these perceptions. Utilizing a sample of 76 pregnant and postpartum individuals enrolled in a public university, the study consisted of self-report assessments pertaining to cognitive ability, mood, postpartum depression, memory, and sleep. All variables under consideration demonstrated statistically significant associations with one another. Participants who perceived poorer cognitive performance also experienced greater depression and anxiety, although the directionality of this effect will require further investigation r(64) = .53, p < .001; r(56) = .49, p < .001. These results suggest that perceptions of cognitive performance are complex and are at least partly influenced by variables that are not directly cognitive in nature. These preliminary findings point to a need to further understand the factors that go into how pregnant and postpartum individuals perceive their cognitive performance and how much of this is an essential feature of pregnancy versus a secondary consequence of other issues that can arise because of pregnancy and new parenthood.