Abstract
Background: Partner support during childbirth is an important protective factor for women's perinatal mental health. However, its protective role in women experiencing vulnerabilities is largely unknown, namely in those with history of mental health problems. Aim: This study analysed (1) the association between partner support during childbirth and depressive, anxiety, and childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in the postpartum period; and (2) the moderating role of previous diagnosis of mental health problems in those associations. Design: Cross-sectional study with 284 women. Methods: At 2 months postpartum, participants reported on sociodemographic, obstetric, and mental health-related data, partner support during childbirth, and depressive (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale), anxiety (State Anxiety Inventory), and childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder (City Birth Trauma Scale) symptoms. Findings: More partner support during childbirth was associated with lower depressive, anxiety, and childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. Previous diagnosis of mental health problems was associated with higher depressive, anxiety, and childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and moderated the association between partner support during childbirth and depressive and anxiety symptoms. Higher partner support during childbirth was associated with lower depressive and anxiety symptoms, only in women without a previous diagnosis of mental health problems. Discussion: Findings suggest that partner support during childbirth can be a protective factor for women's postpartum mental health, particularly for women without a previous diagnosis of mental health problems. However, for those with a previous diagnosis of mental health problems, this support was not associated with symptoms. Conclusion: Women with a history of mental health problems may require additional support beyond that provided by their partners to prevent or mitigate postpartum mental health problems.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 104359 |
| Journal | Midwifery |
| Volume | 144 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - May 2025 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2025 The Author(s)
Funding
This work was funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology\u2014FCT (Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education) , under the grant HEI-LAB ( UIDB/05380/2020 ; https://doi.org/10.54499/UIDB/05380/2020 ) and project 2022.01825.PTDC ( http://doi.org/10.54499/2022.01825.PTDC ). This research was funded by\u201D la Caixa'' Foundation's Social Research Call 2023 under the project code LCF/PR/SR23/57000014 . Funding was received in Portugal by the FSE and FCT \u2013 Funda\u00E7\u00E3o para a Ci\u00EAncia e a Tecnologia, I.P. (Individual CEEC 2023.06934.CEECIND [RC] ; Individual grant 2024.06405.BD [DT] ; Individual grant 2024.03648.BD [DF] ). The funders had no role in study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the article for publication. The authors have stated that they had no interests that might be perceived as posing a conflict or bias.
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia | |
| Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education | UIDB/05380/2020 |
Keywords
- Childbirth
- Childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder
- History of mental health problems
- Partner support
- Postpartum anxiety
- Postpartum depression