2002 International International Biennial Scientific Meeting

PSYCHOSOCIAL PREDICTORS OF POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION IN DIVERSE GROUPS OF WOMEN

M Cynthia Logsdon* and Wayne Usui**

* Department of Nursing, University of Louisville, Prospect, Kentucky
** Department of Sociology, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky

mclogs@aol.com

Objective: The purpose of the study was to test the extent to which a causal model developed from a theoretical formulation of postpartum depression was consistent with data collected from three groups of postpartum women.

Methods: In this cross-sectional, correlational design, the samples consisted of primarily middle-class, Caucasian mothers of term infants and preterm infants and low-income African-American mothers of term infants. Instruments included the CES-D depression instrument, Rosenberg's self-esteem instrument, the Postpartum Support Questionnaire, and a question regarding closeness to partner. The causal model was tested with structural equation modeling.

Results: Importance of support, support received, and closeness to partner were significant predictors of both self-esteem and postpartum depression. 39% of the variance was accounted for in the model.

Conclusion: Predictors of postpartum depression are the same across diverse samples of women, as proposed in the causal model. Social support interventions for postpartum women should include assisting with building self-esteem, maintaining or improving relations with her partner, and providing support in areas that are important to her.