The association between social support and postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder
Abstract Background Postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating condition that can arise following childbirth. Despite a growing body of research on postpartum mental health, the relationship between social support and postpartum PTSD remains unclear. This study aimed to asses...
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BMC
2024-12-01
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| Series: | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-07088-5 |
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| author | Jingfen Chen Shu Wang Xiaolu Lai Linli Zou Shi Wu Wen Daniel Krewski Ri-hua Xie |
| author_facet | Jingfen Chen Shu Wang Xiaolu Lai Linli Zou Shi Wu Wen Daniel Krewski Ri-hua Xie |
| author_sort | Jingfen Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating condition that can arise following childbirth. Despite a growing body of research on postpartum mental health, the relationship between social support and postpartum PTSD remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the association between social support and postpartum PTSD. Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Guangdong province of China between November 2022 and April 2023. Eligible mothers were assessed for social support using the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) at three days postpartum and for PTSD using the Perinatal Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Questionnaire (PPQ) at 42 days postpartum. The association between social support and postpartum PTSD was analyzed using multiple linear and log-binomial regression, with adjustments for potential confounders. Results Forty-six of 560 (8.2%) mothers developed PTSD within 42 days postpartum. Scores for subjective support (β=-0.319, P < 0.001), objective support (β=-0.327, P < 0.001), support availability (β=-0.285, P < 0.001), and overall social support score (β=-0.428, P < 0.001) were inversely associated with PTSD scores. Compared to mothers in the 1st quartile of the overall social support score, those in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quartiles had adjusted relative risks of 0.39 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.21–0.74), 0.20 (95% CI: 0.09–0.45), and 0.10 (95% CI: 0.03–0.33), respectively, of developing PTSD. An inverse linear trend in the risk of PTSD was observed with increasing social support (P-trend < 0.001). Conclusions Social support may have a protective effect against postpartum PTSD, with practical implications for interventions targeting various dimensions of support. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e6a08e84e54e44f098433a62d9c3ff2b |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1471-2393 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
| spelling | doaj-art-e6a08e84e54e44f098433a62d9c3ff2b2025-08-20T02:43:37ZengBMCBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth1471-23932024-12-012411910.1186/s12884-024-07088-5The association between social support and postpartum post-traumatic stress disorderJingfen Chen0Shu Wang1Xiaolu Lai2Linli Zou3Shi Wu Wen4Daniel Krewski5Ri-hua Xie6School of Nursing, Southern Medical UniversitySchool of Nursing, Southern Medical UniversitySchool of Nursing, Southern Medical UniversitySchool of Nursing, Southern Medical UniversityOttawa Hospital Research InstituteSchool of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of OttawaSchool of Nursing, Southern Medical UniversityAbstract Background Postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating condition that can arise following childbirth. Despite a growing body of research on postpartum mental health, the relationship between social support and postpartum PTSD remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the association between social support and postpartum PTSD. Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Guangdong province of China between November 2022 and April 2023. Eligible mothers were assessed for social support using the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) at three days postpartum and for PTSD using the Perinatal Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Questionnaire (PPQ) at 42 days postpartum. The association between social support and postpartum PTSD was analyzed using multiple linear and log-binomial regression, with adjustments for potential confounders. Results Forty-six of 560 (8.2%) mothers developed PTSD within 42 days postpartum. Scores for subjective support (β=-0.319, P < 0.001), objective support (β=-0.327, P < 0.001), support availability (β=-0.285, P < 0.001), and overall social support score (β=-0.428, P < 0.001) were inversely associated with PTSD scores. Compared to mothers in the 1st quartile of the overall social support score, those in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quartiles had adjusted relative risks of 0.39 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.21–0.74), 0.20 (95% CI: 0.09–0.45), and 0.10 (95% CI: 0.03–0.33), respectively, of developing PTSD. An inverse linear trend in the risk of PTSD was observed with increasing social support (P-trend < 0.001). Conclusions Social support may have a protective effect against postpartum PTSD, with practical implications for interventions targeting various dimensions of support.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-07088-5Social supportPost-traumatic stress disorderPostpartumCohort study |
| spellingShingle | Jingfen Chen Shu Wang Xiaolu Lai Linli Zou Shi Wu Wen Daniel Krewski Ri-hua Xie The association between social support and postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Social support Post-traumatic stress disorder Postpartum Cohort study |
| title | The association between social support and postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder |
| title_full | The association between social support and postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder |
| title_fullStr | The association between social support and postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder |
| title_full_unstemmed | The association between social support and postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder |
| title_short | The association between social support and postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder |
| title_sort | association between social support and postpartum post traumatic stress disorder |
| topic | Social support Post-traumatic stress disorder Postpartum Cohort study |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-07088-5 |
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