The predictive role of social support and sleep quality in postpartum depression among parents in Türkiye: A longitudinal study

Abstract

This study examined the predictive effects of social support and sleep quality on postpartum depression among parents. This longitudinal study included 748 participants (374 mothers and 374 fathers) assessed at the first, third, and sixth months postpartum. The study was conducted in Family Health Centers in a central Anatolian city in Türkiye. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Mothers had higher depression scores, poorer sleep quality, and lower perceived social support than fathers at all time points. In mothers, both social support and sleep quality were negatively associated with depression, whereas in fathers, social support showed a stronger and sleep quality a weaker association. Regression analyses indicated that social support was a stronger predictor of postpartum depression than sleep quality for both parents.