Women's experiences of perinatal depression: Symptoms, barriers and enablers to disclosure, and effects on daily life and interaction within the family
Open accessAbstract
OBJECTIVE: Nearly half of all cases of perinatal depression are not detected, despite routine appointments with healthcare professionals (HCP) during pregnancy and after childbirth. Early identification of perinatal depression is crucial to provide the required support and offer timely treatment. This study aimed to explore women's experiences of perinatal depression to help identification and management of perinatal depression by HCPs. DESIGN: Theoretical perspective of symbolic interactionism and methodological design of ethnography was adopted. Face-to-face individual interviews were used. Thematic analysis was conducted to analyse interview data. PARTICIPANTS: Fifteen women who had experienced perinatal depression in the last five years were interviewed. FINDINGS: Three themes were identified: 1) Getting closer to the perinatal depression; 2) Decision to disclose or hide real feelings; 3) Hidden face of perinatal depression. KEY CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Findings demonstrate the importance of HCPs' attitudes towards women, as if women perceive they being dismissed or neglected by HCPs, may have an impact on women refraining from disclosing their feelings.
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Factors that can assist in the early diagnosis of PPD by community nurses include home visits, explicitly stating that the purpose of the visit is to treat both the mother and the baby, longer meetings without time constraints, and continuity of care.
“Among these factors are home visits, explicitly stating that the purpose of the visit is to treat both the mother and the baby, longer meetings without time constraints, and continuity of care.”
From Challenges in diagnosing and treating postpartum depression in the primary care Setting- a qualitative study (2025) · cites this paper as [23]
Semra Pinar et al. mention two factors that could help women disclose their feelings to their family physician: a non-judgmental approach and the perception that the family physician has knowledge about the symptoms, treatment and referral options, and the ability to clearly explain them to the woman.
“Semra Pinar et al. mention two factors that could help women disclose their feelings to their family physician: a non-judgmental approach and the perception that the family physician has knowledge about the symptoms, treatment and referral options, and the ability to clearly explain them to the woman [23].”
From Challenges in diagnosing and treating postpartum depression in the primary care Setting- a qualitative study (2025) · cites this paper as [23]
Other studies have echoed similar responses among women, including difficulty admitting to challenges, feelings of failure, fear of being judged as bad mothers, concerns about having their children taken away by social services, and fear of judgmental attitudes from the medical staff.
“Other studies have echoed similar responses among women, including difficulty admitting to challenges, feelings of failure, fear of being judged as bad mothers, concerns about having their children taken away by social services, and fear of judgmental attitudes from the medical staff [15, 23].”
From Challenges in diagnosing and treating postpartum depression in the primary care Setting- a qualitative study (2025) · cites this paper as [23]
Patients note the difficulty of disclosing their feelings to the physician and the perception of the physician as someone who is unwilling to listen and lacks time for it.
“Patients also note the difficulty of disclosing their feelings to the physician and the perception of the physician as someone who is unwilling to listen and lacks time for it.”
From Challenges in diagnosing and treating postpartum depression in the primary care Setting- a qualitative study (2025) · cites this paper as [23]
Additional studies support the link between traumatic childbirth and a higher risk of developing PPD.
“Additional studies support the link between traumatic childbirth and a higher risk of developing PPD[23, 28, 29].”
From Challenges in diagnosing and treating postpartum depression in the primary care Setting- a qualitative study (2025) · cites this paper as [23]
Cites
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Krepak, D. K., Kopit, A. B., Biderman, A., Yehoshua, I., & Adler, L. (2025) · BMC Primary Care · doi:10.1186/s12875-025-03004-8 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
- Authors
- Pinar, S., Bedford, H., Ersser, S., & McMillan, D.
- Affiliations
- University of York (GB)
- Bournemouth University (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Pinar, Semra
- Venue
- Midwifery
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2022-09
- Volume
- 112
- Pages
- 103389
- ISSN
- 0266-6138 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4281624662
- Cited by
- 13
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1
- FWCI
- 1.48
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Midwifery (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Bournemouth University Research Online (Bournemouth University) (acceptedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare
- Keywords
- perinatal depression, women's experiences, barriers to disclosure, clinician attitudes, early detection of depression, family relationships, symbolic interactionism, maternal mental health
- MeSH terms
- Depression, Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Pregnancy, Depression, Postpartum, Disclosure, Qualitative Research, Delivery, Obstetric
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