Associations of social support and stress with postpartum maternal mental health symptoms: Main effects, moderation, and mediation

ABSTRACT

Poor maternal mental health during the postpartum period can have significant effects on the health of mothers, infants, and families. The findings from cross-sectional studies suggest that stress and social support are related to maternal mental health. This study contributes to the literature through the use of longitudinal data, and examines moderation and mediation among these factors. In 2012–2013, mothers completed surveys assessing stress, social support, and depressive and anxiety symptoms following birth (n = 125), and 3 months (n = 110) and 6 months (n = 99) after birth. The authors examined temporal associations, moderation, and mediation of social support on the relationship between stress and postpartum depressive and anxiety symptoms using modified Poisson regression models and the counterfactual approach to mediation. Current levels of stress and social support were associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms, both independently and when considered together at multiple time points. Social support did not strongly moderate or mediate the relationships between stress and maternal mental health. Interventions to reduce current perceptions of stress and increase social support for mothers during the postpartum period may help improve maternal mental health symptoms. Efforts are needed to assess the current needs of mothers continuously.

KEYWORDS:

• Motherhood
• postpartum anxiety
• postpartum depression
• social support
• stress

Funding

This project was funded, in part, by the University of Iowa Heartland Center for Occupational Health and Safety. The Institute for Clinical and Translational Science at the University of Iowa is supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program (grant U54TR001356). The CTSA program is led by the NIH’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). This publication’s contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.

Additional information

Funding

This project was funded, in part, by the University of Iowa Heartland Center for Occupational Health and Safety. The Institute for Clinical and Translational Science at the University of Iowa is supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program (grant U54TR001356). The CTSA program is led by the NIH’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). This publication’s contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.