Relationship between social support and postpartum depression in women with preeclampsia

Postpartum depression is the most important mood disorder. Social support has been known as one of the risk factor for postpartum depression. Since preeclamptic women are faced with unexpected perinatal complaints، they need to receive more support; therefore this study was performed with aim to evaluate the relationship between social support and postpartum depression in women with preeclampsia.

This Correlational study was performed on 122 women with preeclampsia admitted in public and Tamin Ejtemaei Hospitls of Mashhad in 2013. Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) was completed six weeks after delivery، and Social support Questionnaire was completed two and six weeks after delivery. Data was analyzed by SPSS software (version 16) using Pearson Correlation and Kruskal-Wallis tests.

The mean social support score after two weeks of delivery was 34. 1±1. 39 and after six weeks of delivery 23. 3±1. 04. There was significant relationship between social support 2 weeks after delivery with social support 6 weeks after delivery (P=0. 001). Mean depression score was 11. 1 ± 5. 5. There was positive significant relationship between social support score 2 weeks (p=0. 01) and 6 weeks (p=0. 02) after delivery with depression 6 weeks after delivery.

There was positive correlation between social support and postpartum depression. Depression increased by increasing the postpartum social support.