The relationship of demographic variables, antepartum depression, and stress to postpartum depression

This study examined the contributions of demographic variables, antepartum depressive symptoms, and sources of stress to level of postpartum depression. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and demographic data sheet were administered to 69 women during the eighth month of pregnancy. One month after delivery, subjects completed the post-delivery questionnaire and BDI. A stratified hierarchical regression analysis revealed that marital status, antepartum depressive symptoms, and difficulty of pregnancy predicted level of postpartum depression. Somatic stressors of pregnancy may trigger depressive symptoms that persist after childbirth, particularly in unmarried mothers.