title: Postnatal depression in first-time mothers: prevalence and relationships between functional and structural social support at 6 and 12 weeks postpartum.
abstract: Postnatal depression (PND) is a significant public health issue, with variable prevalence and a dearth of research on risk and protective factors. This quantitative longitudinal study of 512 first-time mothers identified the prevalence of PND and examined the relationships between functional and structural social support at 6 and 12 weeks postpartum. The prevalence of PND was 13.2% at 6 weeks and 9.8% at 12 weeks. At 6 and 12 weeks, the only social support dimension independently associated with PND was total functional social support. At-birth formal structural support and emotional functional support were independently predictive of PND at 12 weeks.
authors.affiliation: Catherine McAuley School of Nursing andMidwifery, Brookfield Health Sciences Complex,University College, Cork, Ireland. patricia.leahy@ucc.ie
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leahy-Warren
authors.forename: Geraldine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Corcoran
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010298:Parity; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult