Social Support Networks and Maternal Mental Health and Well-Being (original) (raw)
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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 role of social networks in improving women's self-care during pregnancy and postpartum
Frontiers in Health Informatics
Introduction: Pregnant women are always faced with common physical and mental problems during pregnancy and postpartum. Self-care through social networks as an effective and influential factor in women's empowerment can improve their physical and mental health. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of social networks in improving women's self-care during pregnancy and postpartum.Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted through a researcher-made questionnaire. We invited 285 pregnant women referred to Fasa medical centers (Shiraz, Iran). 110 pregnant women agreed to participate in the study. Finally, according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 96 pregnant women entered the study and completed the questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, percentage, frequency) and analysis of variance with SPSS 22.Results: Among the 44 roles of social networks in the self-care processes during pregnancy a...
Stress, social support, and emotional distress in a community sample of pregnant women
Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2004
Emotional distress in women during pregnancy has been shown to increase the risk of adverse outcomes for women and newborns. Increasingly, assessment and management of mood and anxiety problems during pregnancy entail consideration of life stress and interpersonal relationships with partners, friends, and family members. This study describes cross-sectional relations between life stress, perceived social support, and symptoms of depression and anxiety as well as the mediating influence of social support on relations between stress and symptoms. A community sample of women (N = 2,052) provided self-report data during their second trimester of pregnancy. Empirical fit was found for a structural equation model that depicted the combined influences of sociodemographic factors (i.e., socioeconomic status, age, parity), stress (partner conflict and life events), and social support on symptoms of depression and anxiety, w 2 (df 51) = 310.65, p 5 .05; CFI = .91. Women who reported low levels of social support showed stronger relations between stress and symptoms than women who reported high levels of social support -indicative of a mediating effect of social support. Consistent with previous studies, results suggest that dyadic psychosocial assessment of pregnant women and their partners may facilitate interventions to augment support networks, thereby reducing the risk of emotional distress.
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 and maternal stress during pregnancy: a PATH model
International Journal of Healthcare, 2015
Background: Lack of appropriate social support and resultant increased maternal stress during pregnancy contributes to negative pregnancy outcomes for both mothers and the future offspring. Objective: The primary aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between social support and maternal stress during pregnancy. Methods: This descriptive-correlative study was conducted on 210 pregnant women who met inclusion criteria and attended Shahryar Social Security Hospital from August to December 2012. Participants were recruited through a purposive convenient sampling. Questionnaires about socioeconomic status, the Vaux Social Support Record and pregnancy-specific stress were completed by participants. SPSS-19 and Lisrel 8.8 were used for data and path analysis. Results: There was a significant relationship between perceived social support and maternal stress (p < .05); however, support from family members and partners had the most affect. An emergent path model fitted (CF1 = 1, RMSEA = 0.00) and, accordingly, direct social support (t-value = 7.3) influenced maternal stress during pregnancy. But socioeconomic status did not show significant impact. Conclusions: Since social support is a measurable and multi-dimensional factor, health managers and policy makers ought to assess, recognize and apply specific support resources for pregnant women. Our data also support the idea that empowering family members and partners to support pregnant women by involving them in prenatal care programs is important to reduce maternal stress rate.
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.
Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 2010
This study examined the association between life events and common mental disorders while accounting for social networks and social supports. Participants included 1920 adults in the Baltimore Epidemiologic Catchment Area Cohort who were interviewed in 1993-1996, of whom 1071 were re-interviewed in 2004-2005. Generalized estimating equations were used to analyze the data. Social support from friends, spouse or relatives was associated with significantly reduced odds of panic disorder and psychological distress, after experiencing specific life events. Social networks or social support had no significant stress-buffering effect. Social networks and social support had almost no direct or buffering effect on major depressive disorder, and no effect on generalized anxiety disorder and alcohol abuse or dependence disorder. The significant association between social support and psychological distress, rather than diagnosable mental disorders, highlights the importance of social support, especially when the severity of a mental health related problem is low.
Reproductive Health
Background Pregnancy is a time of profound physical and emotional change as well as an increased risk of mental illness. While strengthening social support is a common recommendation to reduce such mental health risk, no systematic review or meta-analysis has yet examined the relationship between social support and mental problems during pregnancy. Methods The PRISMA checklist was used as a guide to systematically review relevant peer-reviewed literature reporting primary data analyses. PubMed, Psych Info, MIDIRS, SCOPUS, and CINAHL database searches were conducted to retrieve research articles published between the years 2000 to 2019. The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale tool was used for quality appraisal and the meta-analysis was conducted using STATA. The Q and the I2 statistics were used to evaluate heterogeneity. A random-effects model was used to pool estimates. Publication bias was assessed using a funnel plot and Egger’s regression test and adjusted using trim and Fill analysis. Resu...
International Journal of Maternal and Child Health, 2014
The purpose of this study was to explore associations between forms of social support and levels of psychological distress during pregnancy. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of 2,743 pregnant women from southeast Queensland, Australia, was conducted utilising data collected between 2007-2011 as part of the Environments for Healthy Living (EFHL) project, Griffith University. Psychological distress was measured using the Kessler 6; social support was measured using the following four factors: living with a partner, living with parents or in-laws, self-perceived social network, and area satisfaction. Data were analysed using an ordered logistic regression model controlling for a range of socio-demographic factors. Results: There was an inverse association between self-perceived strength of social networks and levels of psychological distress (OR = 0.77; 95%CI: 0.70, 0.85) and between area satisfaction and levels of psychological distress (OR = 0.77; 95%CI: 0.69, 0.87). There was a direct association between living with parents or in-laws and levels of psychological distress (OR = 1.50; 95%CI: 1.16, 1.96). There was no statistically significant association between living with a partner and the level of psychological distress of the pregnant woman after accounting for household income. Conclusion: Living with parents or in-laws is a strong marker for psychological distress. Strategies aiming to build social support networks for women during pregnancy have the potential to provide a significant benefit. Policies promoting stable family relationships and networks through community development could also be effective in promoting the welfare of pregnant women.
Social Support—A Protective Factor for Depressed Perinatal Women?
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2019
Social support before and after childbirth is a possible protective factor for perinatal depression. Currently, there is a lack of longitudinal studies beyond the first year postpartum exploring the relationship of social support with depression and anxiety. Social support is also a possible protective factor for adverse child development, which is a known consequence of perinatal depression. The present study followed up a cohort of depressed women (n = 54) from a randomised controlled trial of psychological treatment for antenatal depression. We examined the trajectory of the relationships between perceived social support (Social Provisions Scale), depression (Beck Depression Inventory), and anxiety (Beck Anxiety Inventory) twice in pregnancy and twice postpartum up to two years. The influence of social support on child development and parenting-related stress was also explored. Two aspects of social support, Reassurance of Worth and Reliable Alliance, were strongly related to per...