Social Support in Postpartum Depression Management in Young Mothers

Abstract

This research examines how does social support helps young mothers in management of postpartum depression. This study was done to understand depression management during the postpartum period in a social support. Postpartum depression is a serious mental health issue. A woman is more vulnerable in the postpartum period than ever in her life. Previous researches show social support has a significant role in postpartum depression management. The main factors are insufficient social support from spousal relations and trust issue in getting support from peers. A developed grounded theory was used, in which social context was broken down into three types of social support for postpartum depression the parental, spousal and peer support (PSP model). The PSP model for social support was proposed as a grounded theory by Tariq and Raza, 2022. A qualitative research method was used to conduct 10 in-depth interviews of young mothers of Gujranwala. Results shows participants invariably seemed to focus on the emotional disorder and mental fatigue following childbirth. The most important support was provided by spouses and close relatives. Moms are appreciated, loved, and understood when they are heard or their feelings are validated. The support of in-laws was also a crucial source of help. Based on the findings, it is recommended to provide public awareness campaigns using media to educate about postpartum depression and normalize maternal mental health discussions. Families, especially husbands and mothers-in-law, should be educated through workshops to provide supportive care. Healthcare providers need training to identify and manage PPD effectively. Lastly, maternal mental health should be integrated into national health policies with proper resource allocation for awareness, training, and services.