Social Support During the Postpartum Period: Mothers’ Views on Needs, Expectations, and Mobilization of Support
Open accessAbstract
Research has indicated that social support is a major buffer of postpartum depression. Yet little is known concerning women's perceptions on social support during the postpartum period. The objective of this study was to explore postpartum women's views and experiences with social support following childbirth. Four focus groups were conducted with an ethnically diverse sample of women (n = 33) in a large urban teaching hospital in New York City. Participants had completed participation in a postpartum depression randomized trial and were 6-12 months postpartum. Data transcripts were reviewed and analyzed for themes. The main themes identified in the focus group discussions were mother's major needs and challenges postpartum, social support expectations and providers of support, how mothers mobilize support, and barriers to mobilizing support. Women across all groups identified receipt of instrumental support as essential to their physical and emotional recovery. Support from partners and families was expected and many women believed this support should be provided without asking. Racial/ethnic differences existed in the way women from different groups mobilized support from their support networks. Instrumental support plays a significant role in meeting women's basic needs during the postpartum period. In addition, women's expectations surrounding support can have an impact on their ability to mobilize support among their social networks. The results of this study suggest that identifying support needs and expectations of new mothers is important for mothers' recovery after childbirth. Future postpartum depression prevention efforts should integrate a strong focus on social support.
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Many studies have shown that mothers have important physical and emotional needs during the year after childbirth.
“However, many studies have shown that mothers have important physical and emotional needs during the year after childbirth.155,158,160,162–179”
From Consequences of maternal postpartum depression: A systematic review of maternal and infant outcomes (2019) · cites this paper as [155]
Social support seems to have a protective effect against postnatal depression.
“Social support seems to have a protective effect against postnatal depression.8,155,156”
From Consequences of maternal postpartum depression: A systematic review of maternal and infant outcomes (2019) · cites this paper as [155]
High levels of perceived PSE and social support help to facilitate smoother transition to parenthood, leading to increased parental bonding, parenting satisfaction, and parenting competence, and lowered risks of PND and postnatal anxiety (PNA).
“On the contrary, high levels of perceived PSE [23] and social support help to facilitate smoother transition to parenthood [24], leading to increased parental bonding, parenting satisfaction, and parenting competence [25], and lowered risks of PND [23] and postnatal anxiety (PNA) [26].”
From Effectiveness of a Technology-Based Supportive Educational Parenting Program on Parental Outcomes (Part 1): Randomized Controlled Trial (2019) · cites this paper as [24]
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- Authors
- Negron, R., Martin, A., Almog, M., Balbierz, A., & Howell, E. A.
- Affiliations
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (US)
- City University of New York (US)
- Corresponding author
- Negron, Rennie
- ORCID
- Howell, Elizabeth A.
- Venue
- Maternal and Child Health Journal
- Published
- 2012-05-12
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 616-623
- ISSN
- 1092-7875 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-6628
- PMC
- PMC3518627
- OpenAlex
- W1994519694
- Cited by
- 405
- References
- 41
- Citations by year
- 2026: 25 · 2025: 32 · 2024: 38 · 2023: 44 · 2022: 42 · 2021: 49 · 2020: 34 · 2019: 54 · 2018: 24 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 8.65
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Maternal and Child Health Journal (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH077683, 5R01MH77683)
- National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (P60MD000270)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions
- Keywords
- social support, postpartum period, postpartum depression, mothers' needs, instrumental support, family and partner support, racial and ethnic differences, postpartum recovery, postpartum depression prevention
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Attitude to Health, Female, Health Services Needs and Demand, Humans, Mothers, New York City, Postnatal Care, Pregnancy, Social Support, Focus Groups, Depression, Postpartum, Postpartum Period
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