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Women's Health Australia homepage about the Women's Health Australia project Women's Health Australia staff Women's Health Australia current events Women's Health Australia surveys and data Women's Health Australia substudies information for Women's Health Australia participants University of Newcastle contact Women's Health Australia Women's Health Australia publications and presentations Women's Health Australia homepage about the Women's Health Australia project Women's Health Australia staff Women's Health Australia current events Women's Health Australia surveys and data Women's Health Australia substudies information for Women's Health Australia participants University of Newcastle contact Women's Health Australia Women's Health Australia publications and presentations Welcome to Women's Health Australia (WHA)

 
 


Presentations 2008

Chojenta C, Lucke J & Loxton D. Does social support reduce the likelihood of postnatal depression in Australian mothers?
Sydney, NSW, 10-13 September 2008

This study examined the relationship between social support and postnatal depression. Longitudinal data was analysed, collected through the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (ALSWH). The ALSWH started in 1996 when the younger cohort were aged 18-23, and participants have completed follow up surveys on a three yearly basis. Almost 6800 younger women have completed the second (2000), third (2003) and fourth (2006) follow up surveys. Of these women 36.3% had given birth in the last four years and 9.8% reported being diagnosed or treated for postnatal depression (PND) in the three years prior to completing the fourth survey. Among other measures of health and lifestyle, participants were also asked a series of items derived from the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) Social Support Index from Survey 2 onwards in order to measure perceived social support. This analysis compared the self-rated social support for mothers who have experienced PND with those who have not reported experiencing PND at the fourth survey. Mothers who rated their affectionate support and positive social interaction as being available only ‘some of the time’ were significantly more likely to experience postnatal depression than women who rated these types of support as being available most or all of the time. These results indicate that having positive social supports prior to and around the time of a birth of a child has a significant impact on the mental health of mothers.
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Last updated: 9 June 2006 by Cath Chojenta © Copyright