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Factors Influencing Psychological Help-Seeking Intention for Women with Perinatal Depression and Their Spouses: A
Qinhan Zou1, Yanli Mao2, Siying Zhang3
1Nursing Department, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
Background:
Professional psychological help can significantly improve outcomes for women with perinatal depression (PND), yet many delay or avoid seeking it. Spouses significantly influence women's help-seeking decisions. However, comprehensive reviews synthesizing factors affecting both women's and their spouses' intentions, particularly regarding spousal support, remain lacking.
Aim:
This scoping review synthesises current evidence on the factors influencing the psychological help-seeking intentions of women with PND and their spouses.
Methods:
This scoping review adhered to the framework by Arksey and O'Malley and followed the reporting guidelines specified in the PRISMA-ScR checklist. A systematic search was performed in May 2025, across five databases: CINAHL, Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and PsycINFO. To capture a multi-method evidence base, qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method studies were included. Study methodological quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT).
Results:
35 studies met the criteria, forming a multi-method evidence pool (13 qualitative, 19 quantitative, 3 mixed) spanning 16 countries, mainly in North America, Europe, and Asia. Participants were primarily perinatal women, with fewer involving spouses and couples. Five key factors were found to influence the intention of women with PND and their spouses to seek professional psychological help, including: (1) demographic factors; (2) knowledge factors (knowledge of PND and psychotherapy); (3) attitude factors (perspectives on PND screening, psychotherapy, and the responsibilities of the obstetric team); (4) social psychological factors (three types of stigma, and self-efficacy); and (5) psychological service provider-related factors.
Conclusion:
For women with PND and their spouses, intentions to seek professional help are shaped by a complex interplay of knowledge, attitudes, social-psychological factors, and the accessibility and competence of service providers. Future interventions should prioritize comprehensive mental health education, obstetric team training, and standardized medical procedures. Theory-driven longitudinal research is needed to disentangle causal mechanisms and test multi-component interventions targeting these determinants.
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