The differential effect of sources of social support on postpartum depression: the mediating role of resilience

Philos Ethics Humanit Med. 2025 Oct 23;20(1):35. doi: 10.1186/s13010-025-00190-2.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Postpartum depression has a rising global prevalence. Although it receives respectable attention in research, it is not adequately considered in practice. Perceived social support is among the most influential protective factors of PPD; however, the role of sources of social support in the development of PPD is not yet fully discovered. Therefore, this research aims to identify the differential effects of the sources of social support on symptoms of PPD while also investigating the mediating role of resilience.

METHODS: The data analysed In this study were collected from 197 women with parturition within six weeks to a year, aged 25 to 41 (M = 30.36, SD = 3.703). Participants were recruited from public and private hospitals and clinics specializing in paediatric and obstetrics/gynaecology care in Cairo, Egypt, and through social media support groups for pregnant and postpartum women. Data were collected using the Arabic multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS), the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and the Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ) ‘Resilience’ subscale. Multiple linear regression and mediation analyses by structural equation model (SEM) were performed to test the study’s hypotheses.

RESULTS: Friends’ social support was the only significant source in the regression model (β = -.242, t = -3.297, p < .001). However, the overall model was also significant (F (3, 193) = 11.692, p < .001). Resilience significantly and partially mediated the relationship between support from significant others (SO) and PPD symptoms (β = -.042, 95% CI [-0.080, -0.004], z = -2.159, p < .031). However, resilience did not indirectly influence the relationship between family support and PPD symptoms (β = -.025, 95% CI [-0.058, 0.008], z = -1.494, p < .135) and family support and PPD symptoms (β = -.027, 95% CI [-0.056, -0.002], z = -1.830, p < .067) were not significant.

CONCLUSIONS: Perceived social support from friends significantly predicts PPD symptoms. The support from significant others impacts symptoms of postpartum depression directly and indirectly through resilience. These findings emphasize social support as protective against PPD risk and enhancing for resilience.

PMID:41131562 | DOI:10.1186/s13010-025-00190-2