Postpartum depression symptoms in survey-based research: a structural equation analysis.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Mental Health
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Postpartum depression (PPD) is a growing public health concern.
• Mothers at risk for PPD are often undetected and underdiagnosed.
• Existing research lacks comprehensive models for PPD, particularly within specific cultural contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine factors contributing to postpartum depression symptoms using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM).
• To introduce and validate a new framework for modeling postpartum depression in women.
• To analyze the influence of socio-demographics, lifestyle, and dietary factors on PPD.

Main Methods:

• A quantitative study involving 387 postpartum women in Malaysia.
• Utilized the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) to measure PPD symptoms.
• Employed Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to analyze relationships between variables.

Main Results:

• A high prevalence of PPD symptoms was observed (79.6% of respondents).
• Key factors influencing PPD included income, screen time, unhealthy food consumption, and anxiety.
• Unhealthy food consumption and high Body Mass Index (BMI) were directly associated with higher PPD symptom levels.

Conclusions:

• The study highlights a considerable prevalence of PPD symptoms in the studied population.
• Interventions targeting lifestyle, diet, and mental well-being are crucial for managing PPD.
• Postpartum women experiencing depressive symptoms should seek timely medical assistance.