Social Support, Parenting Self-Efficacy, and Postpartum Depression Among Chinese Parents: The Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediation Model

Introduction

Postpartum depression affects both mothers and fathers. This study aimed to examine the relationships between social support, parenting self-efficacy, and postpartum depression in Chinese mothers and fathers and assess the mediating effect of parenting self-efficacy using a dyadic perspective.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was implemented from December 2020 to July 2021 in Guangzhou, China, with 309 pairs of parents. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Social Support Rating Scale, Parenting Sense of Competence Scale-Efficacy subscale, and sociodemographic data sheet were completed by both parents. Dyadic analysis was conducted using the actor-partner interdependence mediation model. An actor effect is the relationship between variables within an individual, whereas a partner effect is the relationship between variables in the individual and the dyadic partner.

Results

In total, 20.7% of mothers and 11.7% of fathers had elevated postpartum depressive symptoms at 6 weeks postpartum. The model revealed 6 actor effects: social support was positively associated with parenting self-efficacy for mothers (β, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.28-0.49) and fathers (β, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.30-0.48) and negatively associated with postpartum depression for mothers (β, −0.22; 95% CI, −0.32 to −0.12) and fathers (β, −0.37; 95% CI, −0.48 to −0.26). Parenting self-efficacy was negatively associated with postpartum depression in mothers (β, −0.41; 95% CI, −0.53 to −0.29) and fathers (β, −0.24; 95% CI, −0.37 to −0.12). Maternal social support had a partner effect on paternal parenting self-efficacy (β, 0.14; 95% CI, 0.04-0.24). Parenting self-efficacy mediated between social support and postpartum depression for both parents (mothers: β, −0.16; 95% CI, −0.23 to −0.10; fathers: β, −0.10; 95% CI, −0.16 to −0.05).

Discussion

Postpartum depression was a dyadic phenomenon. Increasing mother-centered social support has the potential to improve the parenting self-efficacy of both parents and reduce the likelihood of postpartum depression.