title: Effects of stress and social support on postpartum health of Chinese mothers in the United States.
abstract: Postpartum maternal well being across cultures has received limited research attention. We examined relationships among stress, social support, and health in 152 Chinese mothers <1 year postpartum in the United States. These mothers did not perceive high levels of stress, although they did not receive as much support as they indicated they needed; 23.7% of mothers scored high for depressive symptoms. About half of the mothers experienced interrupted sleep, decrease in memory, and lack of sexual desire. All health measures were inter-correlated. Social support moderated the effects of stress on depressive symptoms. Culturally relevant care that is perceived as supportive may promote postpartum maternal health.
authors.affiliation: Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ching-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Rita H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Pickler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001213:Asian / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003469:Culture; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000208:ethnology / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology