History of mental health problems moderates the association between partner support during childbirth and women's mental health in the postpartum period

IF 2.6 3区医学 Q1 NURSING

Midwifery Pub Date : 2025-02-28 DOI:10.1016/j.midw.2025.104359

Daniela Tavares , Daniela Fidalgo , Matilde Sousa , Ana Morais , Inês Jongenelen , Diogo Lamela , Stephanie Alves , Raquel Costa , Tiago Miguel Pinto

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Partner support during childbirth is an important protective factor for women's perinatal mental health. However, its protective role in women experiencing vulnerabilities is largely unknown, namely in those with history of mental health problems.

Aim

This study analysed (1) the association between partner support during childbirth and depressive, anxiety, and childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in the postpartum period; and (2) the moderating role of previous diagnosis of mental health problems in those associations.

Design

Cross-sectional study with 284 women.

Methods

At 2 months postpartum, participants reported on sociodemographic, obstetric, and mental health-related data, partner support during childbirth, and depressive (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale), anxiety (State Anxiety Inventory), and childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder (City Birth Trauma Scale) symptoms.

Findings

More partner support during childbirth was associated with lower depressive, anxiety, and childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. Previous diagnosis of mental health problems was associated with higher depressive, anxiety, and childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and moderated the association between partner support during childbirth and depressive and anxiety symptoms. Higher partner support during childbirth was associated with lower depressive and anxiety symptoms, only in women without a previous diagnosis of mental health problems.

Discussion

Findings suggest that partner support during childbirth can be a protective factor for women's postpartum mental health, particularly for women without a previous diagnosis of mental health problems. However, for those with a previous diagnosis of mental health problems, this support was not associated with symptoms.

Conclusion

Women with a history of mental health problems may require additional support beyond that provided by their partners to prevent or mitigate postpartum mental health problems.

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来源期刊

Midwifery 医学-护理

CiteScore

4.50

自引率

7.40%

发文量

221

审稿时长

13.4 weeks

期刊介绍： Midwifery publishes the latest peer reviewed international research to inform the safety, quality, outcomes and experiences of pregnancy, birth and maternity care for childbearing women, their babies and families. The journal’s publications support midwives and maternity care providers to explore and develop their knowledge, skills and attitudes informed by best available evidence. Midwifery provides an international, interdisciplinary forum for the publication, dissemination and discussion of advances in evidence, controversies and current research, and promotes continuing education through publication of systematic and other scholarly reviews and updates. Midwifery articles cover the cultural, clinical, psycho-social, sociological, epidemiological, education, managerial, workforce, organizational and technological areas of practice in preconception, maternal and infant care. The journal welcomes the highest quality scholarly research that employs rigorous methodology. Midwifery is a leading international journal in midwifery and maternal health with a current impact factor of 1.861 (© Thomson Reuters Journal Citation Reports 2016) and employs a double-blind peer review process.