The Role of Social Support and Acculturation Factors on Postpartum Mental Health Among Latinas in the MADRES Pregnancy Cohort

We examined the associations between social support and postpartum mental health in 137 U.S. and foreign-born Latinas in the MADRES pregnancy cohort. We also examined whether language, years in the U.S., and country of birth moderates these relationships. Participants were administered PROMIS support measures 1 month postpartum; the Perceived Stress and Postpartum Distress Measure 3, 6, and 12 months postpartum; and the CESD scale 12 months postpartum. Perceived stress was lower at 6 months postpartum for women reporting higher emotional ( p = 0.01), informational ( p = 0.03), and instrumental support ( p < 0.001); and lower at 12 months postpartum for women reporting higher emotional support ( p = 0.01). Distress at 6 months was lower in women reporting higher emotional support ( p = 0.03). Interactions suggest that associations were stronger for mothers that speak Spanish, spent fewer years in the U.S., and were born in Central America.