Work

Perinatal depressive symptoms and received support from health professionals: results from the national FinChildren survey

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Perinatal depressive symptoms affect one in 10 parents. However, there is a lack of knowledge on issues related to early and appropriate support for depressive parents. The study investigated what kind of support depressive parents need and receive prenatally from health professionals and whether the received support moderates the association between prenatal depressive symptoms and postpartum mental health. METHODS: The FinChildren survey for parents of babies aged 3-6 months (8977 mothers, 5825 fathers) was conducted in 2020. Parents evaluated their current mental health at the time and prenatal depressive symptoms and support needed (e.g. parenthood, mood, fear of childbirth) retrospectively. RESULTS: Prenatal depressive symptoms (mothers 29.0%, fathers 12.7%) were associated with the need for all types of support, and inadequate support was associated with poorer postpartum mental health for all parents. For prenatal depressive parents, prenatal support for mood, and for prenatally depressive fathers, support in the case of fear of childbirth were important elements in reducing postpartum depressive symptoms or mental strain. LIMITATIONS: The study design was retrospective and cross-sectional. A screening tool was used to identify prenatal depressive symptoms without a clinically relevant cut-off point. CONCLUSIONS: Prenatally depressive parents' support needs do not only concern mental health. Unmet support needs during pregnancy were highly predictive for postpartum depressive symptoms or mental strain. Adequate support for prenatal mood and in the case of paternal fear of childbirth is important, but further research is needed on the most relevant combinations of support issues and practices to support depressive parents.

Source: Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care

DOI: 10.1080/02813432.2025.2546428

Authors: Heidi Kesanto-Jokipolvi, Olli Kiviruusu, Maaret Vuorenmaa, Eetu Ervasti, Reija Klemetti

Institutions: Tampere University, University of Tampere, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, University of Helsinki

Language: English

Topic: Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum

Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,720