Psychosocial predictors of postpartum depressed mood in socioeconomically disadvantaged women.

The effects of stress, social support, and labor and delivery experiences on postpartum depressed mood were examined in an ethnically diverse sample of low-income women (N = 108). Women were interviewed on multiple occasions throughout pregnancy and then once approximately 2 months postpartum. Information on labor and delivery outcomes was abstracted from medical charts. Results indicated that women who were more satisfied with the prenatal social support they received were less likely to experience postpartum depressed mood, after controlling for prenatal depressive symptomatology. In addition, women who experienced more distressing life events during pregnancy and who reported higher levels of prenatal anxiety were also more likely to feel depressed, after controlling for all other factors in the model. Finally, women who were more satisfied with their labor and delivery experience tended to be less depressed in the early months following childbirth. Together, these variables accounted for 45% of the variance in postpartum depressed mood.