title: Social support, stress, and maternal postpartum depression: A comparison of supportive relationships.
abstract: A large body of literature documents the link between social support, stress, and women's mental health during pregnancy and the postpartum period; however, uncertainty remains as to whether a direct effect or stress mediating pathway best describes the relationship between these factors. Moreover, specific dimensions of social support that may be influential (family type, sources of support) have largely been neglected. Using data from the Fragile Families and Child Well-being Study (N=4150), we examine the pathway between social support, stress exposure, and postpartum depression in greater detail. Findings reveal that social support is a significant, protective factor for postpartum depression, and the variety of support providers in a woman's social network is important, especially in the context of family type. Findings also reveal the importance of considering social support and stress exposure as part of a larger causal pathway to postpartum mental health.
authors.affiliation: Pepper Institute for Aging and Public Policy, 636 West Call Street, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, United States. Electronic address: kmr05e@my.fsu.edu.
authors.forename: Keshia M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.affiliation: Pepper Institute for Aging and Public Policy, 636 West Call Street, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, United States. Electronic address: mtaylor3@fsu.edu.
authors.forename: Miles G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D000068097:Maternal Health; D008603:Mental Health; D009035:Mothers; D049590:Postpartum Period; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Family type; Fragile Families and Child Well-being Study; Postpartum depression; Social support; Stress exposure; Stress process