Abstract We examined prenatal depression, postpartum depression, and infant temperament, respectively, in a mediated process model to predict maternal role. Using a prospective, observational design, we surveyed 168 women during pregnancy and then in postpartum. Data analyses supported the contribution of each variable in an ascending fashion (ab= −0.01,SE=0.004,95%CI[−0.021,−0.004]),suchthatinfant temperament had the strongest effects (sr2=.124, p