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Updated: Jun 24, 2026
06:39
Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants
Published on: June 13, 2021
The psychosocial work environment and maternal postpartum depression
Rada K Dagher1, Patricia M McGovern, Bruce H Alexander
1Department of Health Services Research, Management and Policy, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32610-0195, USA. rdagher@phhp.ufl.edu
International Journal of Behavioral Medicine
|March 17, 2009
Summary
Postpartum depression is linked to high job demands and low control at work. Coworker support and autonomy may help reduce symptoms, suggesting a need to examine work-home interactions for maternal mental health.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Psychiatry
- Women's Health
Background:
- Postpartum depression (PPD) is a significant mental health challenge for women after childbirth.
- Work-related stressors are increasingly recognized as potential contributors to PPD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between work-related stressors and postpartum depression at 11 weeks postpartum.
- To apply the job demand-control-support model to understand PPD correlates.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cohort study of 817 employed women hospitalized for childbirth.
- Data collected via in-person and telephone interviews at enrollment, 5, and 11 weeks postpartum.
Main Results:
- Higher psychological demands and lower autonomy/control were associated with worse PPD scores.
- Perceived control mediated the effects of coworker support and schedule autonomy on PPD.
- Coworker support and decision latitude acted as functional substitutes in reducing PPD symptoms.
Conclusions:
- The job demand-control-support model's applicability to PPD warrants further investigation.
- Future research should explore the interplay between work and home environments in maternal mental health.
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