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Social Support—A Protective Factor for Depressed Perinatal Women?

Author

Listed:
  • Jeannette Milgrom

    (Parent-Infant Research Institute, Heidelberg West, Victoria 3081, Australia
    Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia)

  • Yafit Hirshler

    (Parent-Infant Research Institute, Heidelberg West, Victoria 3081, Australia)

  • John Reece

    (School of Psychological Sciences, Australian College of Applied Psychology, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia)

  • Charlene Holt

    (Parent-Infant Research Institute, Heidelberg West, Victoria 3081, Australia)

  • Alan W. Gemmill

    (Parent-Infant Research Institute, Heidelberg West, Victoria 3081, Australia)

Abstract

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 perinatal depression and anxiety, particularly when predicting symptoms in late pregnancy. However, the effect of postnatal depression on child development at 9 and 24 months post-birth was not mediated by social support. These results suggest the importance of adjusting current interventions for depressed perinatal women to focus on social support in late pregnancy and the first six months postpartum.

Suggested Citation

  • Jeannette Milgrom & Yafit Hirshler & John Reece & Charlene Holt & Alan W. Gemmill, 2019. "Social Support—A Protective Factor for Depressed Perinatal Women?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-17, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:8:p:1426-:d:224764
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Karen Yirmiya & Noa Yakirevich-Amir & Heidi Preis & Amit Lotan & Shir Atzil & Inbal Reuveni, 2021. "Women’s Depressive Symptoms during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Pregnancy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-13, April.
    2. Verónica Martínez-Borba & Carlos Suso-Ribera & Jorge Osma & Laura Andreu-Pejó, 2020. "Predicting Postpartum Depressive Symptoms from Pregnancy Biopsychosocial Factors: A Longitudinal Investigation Using Structural Equation Modeling," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-15, November.
    3. Laura Andreu-Pejó & Verónica Martínez-Borba & Carlos Suso-Ribera & Jorge Osma, 2020. "Can We Predict the Evolution of Depressive Symptoms, Adjustment, and Perceived Social Support of Pregnant Women from Their Personality Characteristics? a Technology-Supported Longitudinal Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-15, May.
    4. Laura S. Bleker & Susanne R. de Rooij & Tessa J. Roseboom, 2019. "Prenatal Psychological Stress Exposure and Neurodevelopment and Health of Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-5, September.
    5. Jiarui Chen & Mei Sun & Chongmei Huang & Jinnan Xiao & Siyuan Tang & Qirong Chen, 2022. "Pathways from Neuroticism, Social Support, and Sleep Quality to Antenatal Depression during the Third Trimester of Pregnancy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-11, May.
    6. Shelby E. McDonald & Camie A. Tomlinson & Jennifer W. Applebaum & Sara W. Moyer & Samantha M. Brown & Sue Carter & Patricia A. Kinser, 2021. "Human–Animal Interaction and Perinatal Mental Health: A Narrative Review of Selected Literature and Call for Research," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-26, September.
    7. Shireen Shehzad Bhamani & David Arthur & An-Sofie Van Parys & Nicole Letourneau & Gail Wagnild & Olivier Degomme, 2023. "Development and Validation of Safe Motherhood-Accessible Resilience Training (SM-ART) Intervention to Improve Perinatal Mental Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(8), pages 1-16, April.

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