Clinical investigation of postpartum depression risk factors and screening predictors

doi:10.5498/wjp.v16.i2.113101

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Feb 19, 2026 (publication date) through Feb 2, 2026

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World Journal of Psychiatry

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2220-3206

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Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA

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World J Psychiatry. Feb 19, 2026; 16(2): 113101
Published online Feb 19, 2026. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v16.i2.113101

Table 1 Comparison of basic demographic characteristics between the two groups of postpartum women, n (%)

Characteristics	PPD group (n = 59)	Non-PPD group (n = 317)	Statistics	P value
Age (years), mean ± SD	29.4 ± 4.7	30.1 ± 4.3	t = 1.120	0.264
Ethnicity			χ² = 0.351	0.553
Han	53 (89.8)	292 (92.1)
Minority	6 (10.2)	25 (7.9)
Education level			χ² = 0.545	0.46
High school and above	47 (79.7)	265 (83.6)
Junior high school and below	12 (20.3)	52 (16.4)
Employment status			χ² = 0.617	0.432
Employed	36 (61.0)	210 (66.2)
Unemployed/housewife	23 (39.0)	107 (33.8)
Household registration			χ² = 0.448	0.503
Urban	42 (71.2)	239 (75.4)
Rural	17 (28.8)	78 (24.6)
Only child			χ² = 0.434	0.51
Yes	34 (57.6)	168 (53.0)
No	25 (42.4)	149 (47.0)
Marital status			χ² = 0.825	0.364
Married with stable relationship	51 (86.4)	286 (90.2)
Others¹	8 (13.6)	31 (9.8)
Religious belief			χ² = 0.235	0.628
Yes	7 (11.9)	31 (9.8)
No	52 (88.1)	286 (90.2)
Number of prenatal visits (times), mean ± SD	10.3 ± 2.1	10.5 ± 1.9	t = 0.736	0.462
BMI (kg/m²), mean ± SD	26.8 ± 2.9	26.2 ± 2.7	t = 1.589	0.113
Living arrangement			χ² = 0.762	0.383
With parents/in-laws	27 (45.8)	126 (39.7)
Couple only	32 (54.2)	191 (60.3)
Stable residence			χ² = 0.858	0.354
Yes	55 (93.2)	304 (95.9)
No	4 (6.8)	13 (4.1)
Monthly family income (yuan)			χ² = 4.640	0.031^a
< 5000	14 (23.7)	42 (13.2)
≥ 5000	45 (76.3)	275 (86.8)

¹Others include unmarried, divorced, separated, etc.

^aP < 0.05, statistically significant difference.

t value represents independent sample t-test statistic. χ² represents χ² test statistic. PPD: Postpartum depression.

Full Size Table

Table 2 Comparison of social support between the postpartum depression and non-postpartum depression groups, n (%)

Variables	PPD group (n = 59)	Non-PPD group (n = 317)	t/χ²	P value
SSRS total score, mean ± SD	31.6 ± 7.2	40.3 ± 8.1	7.935	< 0.001^c
SSRS dimensions, mean ± SD
Objective support	9.4 ± 3.1	12.6 ± 3.5	6.694	< 0.001^c
Subjective support	14.2 ± 4.3	18.7 ± 4.5	7.158	< 0.001^c
Support utilization	8.0 ± 2.1	9.0 ± 2.3	3.101	0.002^b
Sources of insufficient support
Spouse support	34 (58.6)	101 (31.9)	14.966	< 0.001^c
Family member support	28 (47.5)	85 (26.8)	9.997	0.002^b
Friend support	25 (42.4)	80 (25.2)	7.291	0.007^b
Professional support
Healthcare follow-up within 1 month	37 (62.7)	239 (75.4)	4.301	0.038^a
Satisfaction with support
Satisfaction score, mean ± SD	5.8 ± 2.1	7.4 ± 1.8	5.982	< 0.001^c
Unmet support needs	40 (67.8)	122 (38.5)	17.381	< 0.001^c
Multivariate analysis result
Insufficient social support, OR (95%CI)	3.12 (1.65-5.89)	Reference	-	< 0.001^c

^aP < 0.05.

^bP < 0.01.

^cP < 0.001.

PPD: Postpartum depression; SSRS: Social Support Rating Scale; OR: Odds ratio; 95%CI: 95% confidence interval.

Full Size Table

Table 3 Comparison of psychosocial and infant-related factors between the postpartum depression and non-postpartum depression groups, n (%)

Variables	PPD group (n = 59)	Non-PPD group (n = 317)	Statistics	P value
Postpartum stressful events
Any stressful event	18 (30.5)	44 (13.9)	χ² = 10.73	0.001^b
Family conflict	11 (18.6)	23 (7.3)	χ² = 8.34	0.004^b
Sleep quality
PSQI score, mean ± SD	11.5 ± 3.3	8.2 ± 2.7	t = 8.45	< 0.001^a
Poor sleep quality (PSQI > 7)	48 (81.4)	151 (47.6)	χ² = 22.78	< 0.001^a
Difficulty falling asleep	40 (68.5)	131 (41.2)	χ² = 14.56	< 0.001^a
Sleep maintenance problems	34 (56.8)	106 (33.4)	χ² = 9.87	0.002^b
Early morning awakening	27 (45.8)	82 (25.9)	χ² = 8.42	0.004^b
Infant care difficulties
Any infant care difficulty	36 (61.0)	122 (38.5)	χ² = 10.96	0.001^b
Breastfeeding difficulties	26 (43.5)	85 (26.7)	χ² = 7.04	0.008^b
Infant sleep regulation problems	32 (54.2)	111 (35.1)	χ² = 8.64	0.003^b
Maternal adaptation
Poor maternal role adaptation	28 (47.5)	81 (25.6)	χ² = 12.34	< 0.001^a
Mother-infant bonding difficulties	21 (35.6)	58 (18.3)	χ² = 9.12	0.003^b
Infant characteristics
Male gender	31 (52.5)	164 (51.7)	χ² = 0.01	0.915
Birth weight (g), mean ± SD	3214 ± 462	3278 ± 433	χ² = 1.03	0.305
Preterm birth	5 (8.5)	21 (6.6)	χ² = 0.27	0.602
Congenital anomalies	2 (3.4)	7 (2.2)	Fisher's exact	0.639

^aP < 0.001.

^bP < 0.01.

PPD: Postpartum depression; PSQI: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.

Full Size Table

Citation: Yang XW, Jiang XL, Wu YL. Clinical investigation of postpartum depression risk factors and screening predictors. World J Psychiatry 2026; 16(2): 113101
URL: https://www.wjgnet.com/2220-3206/full/v16/i2/113101.htm
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.5498/wjp.v16.i2.113101