Family Member’s Intention to Encourage Help-Seeking for Postpartum Depression: The Role of Recognition, Knowledge, Attitudes, and Stigma

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a worldwide common condition affecting 10%-20% of mothers within the first year of childbirth, most of whom do not turn for needed help. Many studies focus on the women's view or healthcare professional's view of PPD. It has been found that even when women have been diagnosed by health-care professionals as having PPD, it is sometimes difficult for them to recognize and accept the diagnosis, and many of them do not turn to help. Therefore, it is important for partners and family members to be aware of PPD symptoms, recognize them and be knowledgeable about PPD so that they can help identify, refer, and support their loved ones in seeking help. Very few studies explored family members' point of view.

The purpose of this research was to examine the contribution of knowledge about postpartum depression and treatment, attitudes towards seeking help and stigma toward women with PPD, to family members’ recognition of PPD and to their intentions to encourage their postpartum women family member to seek help if needed. The research included 146 family members of women who were pregnant or had given birth within the past year, between the ages of 18-75.(Not necessarily women who had PPD)A self- report questionnaire was posted on social media groups, online internet forums and WhatsApp groups and included 6 questionnaires assessing Socio demographic background factors, intention to encourage help-seeking, recognition of PPD symptoms, knowledge regarding PPD and treatment, attitudes towards seeking help, and stigma towards women with PPD. This study is a Quantitative cross-sectional study and was analyzed by correlational analysis and multiple regression. For the mediation analysis, path analysis was used.

The results showed significant correlations between the variables of knowledge, attitude, recognition, and the intention to encourage help-seeking, confirming the hypotheses that knowledge, attitudes, and recognition positively contribute to the intention to encourage help-seeking. However, no significant correlation was found between stigma and the intention to encourage help-seeking, contrary to expectations. The study also found that background variables, such as knowing someone who experienced or sought help for PPD, played a significant role in shaping the intention to encourage help-seeking. Additionally, the mediation analysis revealed that recognition of PPD symptoms mediated the relationship between knowledge and intention to encourage help-seeking, while attitudes and stigma had direct effects on the outcome. 

These findings contribute to a better understanding of the factors influencing family members' significance in supporting and encouraging postpartum women in seeking help for PPD. Focusing on family members will hopefully have an impact on more women being diagnosed and benefiting from receiving help for PPD.