Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a highly prevalent mood disorder that occurs after childbirth. As PPD can have large adverse effects on maternal and infant wellbeing, understanding its predisposing and protective factors is vital to improve health outcomes. Past research has identified perceived childbirth trauma, a mother’s subjective experience of distress during childbirth, as a risk factor for PPD. However, due to the presence of other major risk factors, it can be difficult to determine specific links between perceived childbirth trauma and PPD. To address this, I will examine the relationship between perceived childhood trauma and PPD symptom onset in mothers without major risk factors: past history of psychiatric illness, multiple pregnancy (e.g., twins), and child death. Furthermore, I will explore the association between perceived social support, a well-established protective factor, on PPD symptom onset in mothers with high perceived childbirth trauma. I expect mothers with high perceived trauma to show higher risk of developing symptoms. However, of these mothers, I expect those with high perceived support to be at lower risk of developing symptoms than those with low perceived support. To quantify perceived trauma and support, 150 mothers will complete the scale of traumatic childbirth perception (STCP) and the multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS) at one-week postpartum. They will also complete the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the MSPSS at set intervals during the first six months postpartum to measure PPD symptoms and confirm perceived support. Results of this study will be important in identifying mothers at high risk of developing PPD, promoting early, preventative intervention and maternal and infant wellbeing.