Publication year
2008
Citation Title
Postpartum depression in a military sample.
Journal Name
Military Medicine
Journal Volume
173
Issue Number
11
Page Numbers
1085-1091
DOI
10.7205/MILMED.173.11.1085
Summary
An exploratory study of rates and psychosocial risk factors (e.g., prenatal anxiety and depression, low self-esteem life stress, etc.) of postpartum depression in the military was conducted at Wilford Hall Medical Center with active duty women Service members. Initial results showed higher rates of postpartum symptoms in military population than civilian, however no correlation between symptoms and marital status or military factors.
Key Findings
Results indicated that nearly 20% of Active Duty military Service members disclosed symptoms of postpartum depression, which is higher than current civilian rates.
Nearly 40% of the sample endorsed pregnancy complications, a factor noted for its contribution to postpartum depression.
There was no relationship between postpartum symptoms and marital status or military factors.
Implications for Program Leaders
Enhance education, activities, and curriculum related to coping with postpartum depression and improve female Service members overall health
Create and promote peer support groups for Service members struggling with postpartum depression
Encourage military installations to host awareness campaigns regarding postpartum depression, encouraging Service members and their partners to engage in regular self-care and to keep healthcare appointments
Implications for Policy Makers
Encourage collaboration between medical and mental health providers to form partnerships to care for families affected by postpartum depression
Recommend that Service members be routinely screened for mood and anxiety disorders prior to and after labor and delivery
Afford Service members time in their schedules to engage in regular wellness activities and manage mental health symptoms
Methods
A total of 526 participants were recruited via letters, flyers, and informational posters.
Out of 526 sent letters, 92 participated, five were excluded due to incompletion of measures/timing, with a total of 87 participants included in analysis.
Participants completed a 22-item, multiple choice demographic questionnaire, along with two measures, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and a modified Postpartum Depression Predictors Inventory-revised.
Participants
Participants were all Active Duty military women, who gave birth at Wilford Hall Medical Center.
The majority of the sample was White (62.1%), with a mean age of 30 years, and an average of 1.7 children.
Seventy percent of participants were U.S. Air Force, 23% Army, 3.4% Navy and National Guard and Reserve; 63% were enlisted personnel.
Limitations
Due to the small sample size and single site of data collection, these results may not accurately reflect the military population as a whole.
Presence or absence of risk factors were not fully assessed due to expense and time, which could have influenced and confounded results.
All questionnaire were self-reported and participation was self-selected, which could account for selection bias.
Avenues for Future Research
Include a larger sample size with a random sampling of sites and branches to produce generalizable results
Utilize research questionnaires that include expanded military-specific questions to better analyze the impact of wartime status and military environment on mothers mental health
Examine various prevention programming to determine best practices for postpartum prevention and treatment for community and military providers
Focus
Multiple Branches
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Component
Abstract
Postpartum depression (PPD) affects nearly 1 in 8 mothers and has many negative implications. Studies show particular risk factors are linked with PPD. There are nearly 200,000 women serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, but little is known regarding PPD and active duty (AD) mothers. This study examined rates and risk factors for AD mothers and found that 19.5% were positive for PPD symptoms. Ten significant psyehosocial factors were associated with PPD, including low self-esteem, prenatal anxiety, prenatal depression, history of previous depression, social support, poor marital satisfaction, life stress, child care stress, difficult infant temperament, and maternity blues. This study has implications for prevention, identification, and treatment of AD military women with PPD.
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