Social support, acculturation, maternal self-efficacy and postpartum depression in immigrant Asian Indian women in the United States

Abstract

Introduction: Postpartum depression affects one in eight women in the United States (US). Previous studies suggest high rates of postpartum depression symptoms ranging from 35-52% for immigrant Asian Indian women in the US. Previous studies have found social support, acculturation, and maternal self-efficacy to be associated with postpartum depression symptoms. However, no studies have examined the relationships between social support, acculturation, and maternal self-efficacy with postpartum depression symptoms in immigrant Asian Indian women in the US. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between social support, acculturation, and maternal self-efficacy with postpartum depression symptoms in immigrant Asian Indian women in the US. The specific aims for the study were: Specific Aim 1: Examine the relationships between social support, acculturation, and maternal self-efficacy with postpartum depression among immigrant Asian Indian women in the US. Specific Aim 2: Explore the role of demographic variables (maternal age, maternal education, and annual household income) in moderating the relationships between social support, acculturation, and maternal self-efficacy with postpartum depression among immigrant Asian Indian women in the US. ☐ Method: A descriptive correlational design using a cross-sectional online survey was utilized to collect data. The study sample were 121 Asian Indian women residing in the US, who were born in India and had migrated to the US after the age of 18 years, had delivered a live infant in the US, could read and understand English and had internet access. Study independent variables were social support measured using the Social Support Scale, acculturation measured using the Asian American Multidimensional Acculturation Scale, and maternal self-efficacy measured using the Perceived Maternal Parenting Self-Efficacy tool. The dependent variable was postpartum depression symptoms measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Covariates for this study were demographic/ obstetric variables that correlated with EPDS scores in the bivariate analysis. ☐ Results: Lower social support scores (β = -.164, p = <.001) and higher number of postpartum physical problems (β = .729, p = .002) were related to higher EPDS scores in a multiple linear regression model accounting for 34% of outcome variance. The moderating effect of demographic variables (i.e., maternal age, maternal education, and annual household income) on the relationships between social support, acculturation, and maternal self-efficacy with postpartum depression symptoms was not supported. ☐ Discussion: This study identified social support and postpartum physical problems as correlates of postpartum depression symptoms in a sample of immigrant Asian Indian women in the US. Health care practitioners need to screen for social support and physical problems in immigrant Asian Indian mothers during the postpartum period. Future studies are needed to design culturally-appropriate and evidenced-based interventions that prevent postpartum depression symptoms by addressing social support needs and postpartum physical health problems in immigrant Asian Indian women in the US.