Risk factors for postpartum depression among sexual minority and heterosexual parents

Postpartum depression (PPD), a major depressive episode with postpartum onset, develops in 15% of mothers. Although findings suggest sexual minority parents may be at risk for PPD, research among this population is scarce. We evaluated risk factors for PPD in a sample of sexual minority and heterosexual parents.

Four hundred and twenty seven heterosexual and one hundred and eleven sexual minority parents responded to a questionnaire distributed via social media that included demographics, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support.

Sexual minority identity was not associated with increased risk for PPD. Pregnancy had no significant effect on the likelihood for PPD. Social support was negatively and significantly associated with probability for PPD.

Our data suggest that sexual minority parents are not at increased risk for PPD, contrary to previous findings. The parental role, a psychosocial factor, is a more dominant risk factor than pregnancy itself, in the development of PPD.