Social Support—A Protective Factor for Depressed Perinatal Women? (original) (raw)
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The relationship between social support in pregnancy and postnatal depression
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Purpose Lack of social support is considered a potential risk factor for postnatal depression but limited longitudinal evidence is available. Pregnancy, when women have increased contact with healthcare services, may be an opportune time to intervene and help strengthen women’s social networks to prevent feelings of depression postnatally, particularly for those at greatest risk. Our study examined the longitudinal relationship between social support in pregnancy and postnatal depression, and whether this is moderated by age or relationship status. Methods We analysed data collected from 525 women from a diverse inner-city maternity population in England who were interviewed in pregnancy and again three months postnatally. Women provided sociodemographic information and completed self-report measures of depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) and social support (Social Provisions Scale). Results Less social support in pregnancy was associated with postnatal depression, aft...
Social support in pregnancy: Psychosocial correlates of birth outcomes and postpartum depression
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1993
This prospective study examined the effects of prenatal social support on maternal and infant health and well-being in a sample of low-income pregnant women (N = 129). Three aspects of support (amount received, quality of support received, and network resources) and four outcomes (birth weight, Apgar scores, labor progress, and postpartum depression) were studied. Results indicated that women who received more support had better labor progress and babies with higher Apgar scores. Women with higher quality support had babies with higher Apgar scores and experienced less postpartum depression. Also, women with larger networks had babies of higher birth weight. Further analyses indicated that the outcomes as a whole were more consistently predicted by instrumental rather than emotional forms of support. Finally, although there was some evidence for stress-buffering eifects of support, the overall findings were more consistent with a main effect model.
The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine
Background. Social relationships provide individuals with a general sense of self-worth, psychological wellbeing, as well as allowing them access to resources during stressful periods and transitions in life. Pregnancy is a time of significant life change for every woman. The aim of this study was to verify the influence of social support perceived by mothers during pregnancy on the quality of their birth experience and post-partum depression. Method. A longitudinal study at three different times was carried out on 179 nulliparous pregnant women. Women completed a Maternal Social Support Questionnaire during the third trimester of their pregnancy. Then, on the first day after childbirth, clinical birth indices were collected. Finally, a month after childbirth, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was administered. Results. Post-partum depression was influenced negatively by maternal perceived social support and positively by negative clinical birth indices. In addiction to these direct effects, analyses revealed a significant effect of maternal perceived social support on post-partum depression, mediated by the clinical indices considered. Conclusions. Social support perceived by mothers during pregnancy plays a significant role as a protection factor against post-partum depression, both directly and indirectly, reducing the negative clinical aspects of the birth experience.
Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 2011
Postnatal depression (PND) is a significant public health issue, with variable prevalence and a dearth of research on risk and protective factors. This quantitative longitudinal study of 512 first-time mothers identified the prevalence of PND and examined the relationships between functional and structural social support at 6 and 12 weeks postpartum. The prevalence of PND was 13.2% at 6 weeks and 9.8% at 12 weeks. At 6 and 12 weeks, the only social support dimension independently associated with PND was total functional social support. At-birth formal structural support and emotional functional support were independently predictive of PND at 12 weeks.
The Relationship Between Social Support and Postpartum Depression
Journal of Holistic Nursing and Midwifery, 2021
Postpartum depression is a common and severe problem that has adverse effects on maternal and family health. Social support is one of the determinants of health, and in recent years has received increasing attention, and its overlook is a significant risk factor for postpartum depression. Objective: This study aimed to determine the relationship between social support and postpartum depression in women referring to comprehensive health centers in Rasht City, Iran. Materials and Methods: The present study is a cross-sectional, analytical study performed on 300 mothers referred to the comprehensive health service centers in Rasht 2-4 weeks after their deliveries. They were selected by cluster sampling method, which was done systematically within each cluster. The study data were collected using a three-part questionnaire of demographic characteristics, Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS), and Hopkins social support. The obtained data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (t-test, Friedman, Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, Spearman correlation coefficient, and rank logistic regression). Results: The results showed that the Mean±SD age of the study mothers was 29±5.3 years. About 63.7% of mothers had low postpartum depression, and their Mean±SD total score of social support was 64.03±16.92. The most support received from the spauses and parents. There was a statistically significant relationship between social support received by mothers after childbirth with education level (P=0.003), job (P=0.001), spauses' job (P=0.001), income (P=0.001), residence status (P=0.043), number of deliveries (P=0.05) and pregnancy desire (P=0.047) and there was a significant inverse correlation between depression score and social support score by spauses (P=0.004, r=-0.167), parents (P=0.002, r=-0.176) and total social support score (P=0.024, r =-0.130). After adjusting for individual social variables, the effect of social support score on the part of the spauses (P=0.001), parents (P=0.006), friends, and relatives (P=0.033) continued to be associated with the severity of depression. Also, the number of deliveries (P=0.05) and h spauses' jobs (self-employed) were significant compared to the unemployed ones (P=0.049). Conclusion: The results showed a significant and inverse relationship between social support and symptoms of postpartum depression. Although these results show the most support from spauses and parents, the amount of support received in the area of spauses' parents, friends, and relatives were low. It is necessary to draw the attention of midwives and health care providers to mothers and inform them about the importance of social support and its prominent role in reducing postpartum depression.
The association between social support and postpartum depression in women: A cross sectional study
Women and Birth, 2019
Background: Prevalence of postpartum depression is estimated to be about 10-15% worldwide. Many risk factors are supposed to play a role leading a new mother to maternal postpartum depression which can considerably affect the baby, mother, family and also the society. Objective: To investigate the prevalence of maternal postpartum depression and its association with social support. Methods: Using a cross-sectional study, 200 new mothers who attended three teaching hospitals in Tehran, Iran were selected with a convenience sampling. Postpartum depression was assessed using the Iranian version of Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale and women's levels of social support were measured using the Iranian version of Social Support Questionnaire. Results: Prevalence of postpartum depression was 43.5% in new mothers. The mean (AEStandard Deviation) score of social support network was 2.09 AE 0.99; which is lower in depressed mothers in comparison to non-depressed mothers (1.78 AE 0.87 vs. 2.33 AE 1.00 respectively, P < 0.001). A reverse significant association was found between social support and postpartum depression after adjusting for confounding variables such as past history of depression, illness of baby and medication consumption during pregnancy (Odds Ratio = 0.47, 95% Confidence Interval = 0.33-0.67). Conclusion: The bigger the social network of a mother, the less postpartum depression occurs. It is suggested to educate the family about the very important role of social support and improve it in every aspect of health care in order to prevent postpartum depression.
Psychological Medicine, 1998
Background. A prospective epidemiology study evaluated the role of specific social and psychological variables in the prediction of depressive symptomatology and disorders following childbirth in a community sample. Measures of social support used previously in clinically depressed populations facilitated further comparison.Methods. Nulliparous pregnant women (N=507) were interviewed during pregnancy with the Interview Measure of Social Relationships (IMSR) and a contextual assessment of pregnancy-related support and adversity and 427 were followed up at 3 months postpartum with the 30-item GHQ, including six depression items. To establish the clinical representativeness of the GHQ, high GHQ scorers and a random subsample of low scorers were interviewed using the SCAN. Regression models were developed using the GHQ Depression scale (GHQ-D), the IMSR and other risk factor data.Results. GHQ-D after childbirth was predicted by lack of perceived support from members of the woman's p...
Quality of life and depression following childbirth: impact of social support
Midwifery, 2011
to evaluate the impact of social support on postnatal depression and health-related quality of life.prospective cohort study. Data were collected at baseline and at six weeks post discharge using a postal survey.between August and December 2008, 320 women from a large tertiary hospital were recruited following the birth of their infant.Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Maternity Social Support Scale and World Health Organization Quality of Life assessment questionnaire.of the 320 women recruited, 222 (69.4%) returned their six-week questionnaire. Women with low social support had significantly higher scores on the EPDS than women who reported adequate support (p=0.007). There was also a significant effect of social support on health-related quality of life. Women with low family or partner support scored lower in all domains, with the greatest mean difference in the social health domain (p=0.000). Of those scoring >10 on the EPDS, 75.5% had sought professional help.women with low social support are more likely to report postnatal depression and lower quality of life than well-supported women. Careful assessment of a woman’s level of support following the birth, particularly from her partner and family, may provide useful information for possible interventions.
RADS Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Objectives: To assess the association of perceived social support with postnatal depression among puerperal women of Faisalabad, Pakistan. Methods: It was a case-control study carried out during a period of 18 months (1-1-2019 to 30-06-2020). By using purposive sampling technique 284 postpartum women were enrolled from Allied hospital and Children hospital Faisalabad. The postnatal depression was diagnosed with Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS).The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) was used to measure the social support that was perceived by women. Results: According to cut-off score ≥13 on EPDS 37.3% women were found depressed while 62.7% women were found non-depressed. The mean EPDS score ± SD was 10.12 ± 6.27 (min score 0; max score 27). The perceived social support from significant other, family and friends was found as significant predictor of postnatal depression. With one-point increase in global perceived social support, the postnatal depres...