Postpartum mental health: can dyadic stress explain the association between marital satisfaction and postpartum depression?

Abstract

Introduction. A wide range of studies illustrated women's increasing incidence of postpartum depression. The mother's depression is related to multiple areas of the child's development: lower weight, sleep disturbances, speaking delays, lower IQ, and delays in behavioral acquisitions. Research illustrates that social and marital characteristics are related to postpartum depression, stress is also considered an essential predictor of postpartum depression, and most mothers are married or cohabiting. Research purpose. We are interested in exploring the mediating role of dyadic stress on the relationship between marital satisfaction and postpartum depression. Methods. Using a sample of 169 primiparous women (women at first birth) in the first year postpartum, we propose investigating the association between marital satisfaction, dyadic stress and postpartum depression and the mediating role of four categories of dyadic stress on the relationship between marital satisfaction and postpartum depression. Results. Significant correlations were found between marital satisfaction, postpartum depression and three of four categories of dyadic stress. Moreover, the minor internal stress of the couple is the one that can explain the connection between marital satisfaction and postpartum depression. Discussion. The outcomes underline the importance of the couple's aspects in the mothers' postpartum mental health.