Postpartum depressive symptoms and their association with social support among foreign mothers in Japan at 3 to 4 months postpartum

Abstract

Backgrounds: With Japan's globalization, maternal-child health care for foreign mothers is highly necessary. We examined postpartum depressive symptoms in foreign mothers in Japan and the factors associated with such symptoms, particularly social support.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted for Japanese and foreign mothers at 3 to 4 months postpartum. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was used to evaluate postpartum depression symptom, and social support was evaluated by support type and provider. Multiple regression analyses was used.

Results: Data from 97 Japanese mothers and 68 foreign mothers were analyzed. The average score of Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale for foreign mothers was 7.5, significantly higher than that for Japanese mothers (4.2). Financial circumstances, spouse-partners' emotional support, and families' informational support were significantly related to foreign mothers' postpartum depressive symptoms.

Conclusion: Postpartum depression symptoms were more common among foreign mothers than among Japanese mothers. Medical personnel should encourage such mothers to obtain more social support from their spouse-partners and family.

Keywords: EPDS; Japan; immigrant mother; postpartum depression; social support.