Structural Model of Postpartum Depression Based on Social Support and Marital Satisfaction by Mediating Resilience

This study aimed to present a structural model of postpartum depression based on social support and marital satisfaction with the mediation of resilience.

The current research method was descriptive and type of structural equation modeling. The statistical population of the research included all mothers who had given birth and were referred to Jahrom University of Medical Sciences hospitals, and 415 mothers who referred for natural delivery and caesarean section using the available sampling method and completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression scale (EPDS), the Sherbourne and Stewart Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS), the Enrich Marital Satisfaction Scale (EMS) and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) four to eight weeks after delivery. Data analysis was done using the (AMOS) software version 24, and the reliability of the tools was checked by Cronbach's alpha method and with the help of SPSS software version 23.

The findings of the research showed that social support had a significant effect on postpartum depression only indirectly (β = -0.10, p = 0.02) through resilience. In addition, it was found that marital satisfaction can both directly (β = -0.36, p = 0.0001) and indirectly affect postpartum depression through resilience (β = -0.22, p = 0.009).

Resilience can be considered an anti-depressant factor in the postpartum period. Psychological interventions aimed at increasing resilience, social support and marital satisfaction, can play a significant role in preventing postpartum depression.