The impact of postpartum social support on postpartum mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Arch Womens Ment Health
; 26(4): 531-541, 2023 08.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-20244641
ABSTRACT
Social support is an influential component of postpartum recovery, adjustment, and bonding, which was disrupted by social distancing recommendations related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports on changes in the availability of social support for postpartum women during the pandemic, investigates how those changes may have contributed to postpartum mental health, and probes how specific types of social support buffered against poor postpartum mental health and maternal-infant bonding impairment. Participants were 833 pregnant patients receiving prenatal care in an urban USA setting and using an electronic patient portal to access self-report surveys at two time points, during pregnancy (April-July 2020) and at ~12 weeks postpartum (August 2020-March 2021). Measures included an assessment of COVID-19 pandemic-related change in social support, sources of social support, ratings of emotional and practical support, and postpartum outcomes including depression, anxiety, and maternal-infant bonding. Overall self-reported social support decreased during the pandemic. Decreased social support was associated with an increased risk of postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, and impaired parent-infant bonding. Among women reporting low practical support, emotional support appeared to protect against clinically significant depressive symptoms and impaired bonding with the infant. Decreases in social support are associated with a risk for poor postpartum mental health outcomes and impaired maternal-infant bonding. Evaluation and promotion of social support are recommended for healthy adjustment and functioning of postpartum women and families.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Depression, Postpartum
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Infant
/
Pregnancy
Language:
English
Journal:
Arch Womens Ment Health
Journal subject:
Psychology
/
Women's Health
Year:
2023
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S00737-023-01330-3
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