Quantitative and qualitative examination of the relationships between postpartum depression symptoms and social support and affect

Since the advent of clinical observation and prognosis in the field of medicine, health-related texts have addressed postpartum mood changes with various definitions. In its most recent form, Postpartum Depression (PPD) is characterized by a depressive mood, loss of pleasure, decreased energy, slowed movement, changes in sleep and appetite, decreased sexual desire, and suicidal thoughts, occurring typically between 4-6 weeks and 1 year after childbirth. PPD affects the physical and mental health of both mothers and babies and can lead to adverse outcomes. This study explored the concept of social support, a fundamental factor influencing PPD, by considering the type, source, and content of social support and investigating the role of affect in the relationship between social support and postpartum depression. The study was conducted with 226 mothers living in Turkey who had given birth in the last year. For data collection, a Demographic Information Form, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Social Support Behaviors Scale, and Information-Based Social Support and Emotion Form were utilized. SPSS 26.0 was used for quantitative analysis, while content analysis was used for qualitative data. Received and perceived social support were found to predict postpartum depression symptoms, with no moderator effects observed for the source and frequency of support. The research delved into quantitative and qualitative differences between needed and received support, revealing that receiving less support at the required frequency predicted PPD symptoms. Analyzing thematic differences of support received and needed, the study highlighted emotions like inadequacy, guilt, disgust, disappointment, anxiety, sadness, and calmness. The discrepancy between ideal and actual levels of emotions regarding received support emerged as a predictor of postpartum depression symptoms. The results were discussed in light of existing literature, addressing the implications of the study for clinical and social policies, limitations, and suggestions for future research. Keywords Postpartum depression, received social support, perceived social support, social support source, emotion