History of mental health problems moderates the association between partner support during childbirth and women's mental health in the postpartum period
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Data
2025-05
Autores
Tavares, Daniela
Fidalgo, Daniela
Sousa, Matilde
Morais, Ana
Jongenelen, Inês
Lamela, Diogo
Alves, Stephanie
Costa, Raquel
Pinto, Tiago Miguel
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Editora
Churchill Livingstone
Resumo
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.
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Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s)
Palavras-chave
PSYCHOLOGY, MENTAL HEALTH, BIRTH PSYCHOLOGY, ANXIETY, POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS, CHILDBIRTH, POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION, PSICOLOGIA, DEPRESSÃO PÓS-PARTO, SAÚDE MENTAL, PSICOLOGIA DO NASCIMENTO, ANSIEDADE, STRESS PÓS-TRAUMÁTICO, NASCIMENTO
Citação
Tavares, D, Fidalgo, D, Sousa, M, Morais, A, Jongenelen, I, Lamela, D, Alves, S, Costa, R & Pinto, T M 2025, 'History of mental health problems moderates the association between partner support during childbirth and women's mental health in the postpartum period', Midwifery, vol. 144, 104359. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2025.104359