Academic Journal
Intergenerational support, conflict, and postpartum depression trajectories among Chinese mothers: Family-based care and multilevel predictors.
| Τίτλος: | Intergenerational support, conflict, and postpartum depression trajectories among Chinese mothers: Family-based care and multilevel predictors. |
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| Συγγραφείς: | Guan Z; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, Affiliated Mental Health Center (ECNU), School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China., Zhang X; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, Affiliated Mental Health Center (ECNU), School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China., Zhao R; Department of Colorectal Surgery, Tianjin Union Medical Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nankai University, Nankai University, Tianjin, China., Li J; Department of Psychiatry, Changning Maternity and Infant Health Hospital, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China., Lyu L; Department of Psychiatry, Changning Maternity and Infant Health Hospital, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China., Fang W; Obstetrics & Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Yangtze River Delta Integration Demonstration Zone (QingPu), Shanghai, China. Electronic address: 1911@fckqp.org.cn., Xi J; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, Affiliated Mental Health Center (ECNU), School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China; Positive Education China Academy (PECA) of Han-Jing Institute for Studies in Classics, Juzhe Xi's Master Workroom of Shanghai School Mental Health Service, China Research Institute of Care and Education of Infants and Young Children, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: jzxi@psy.ecnu.edu.cn. |
| Πηγή: | Journal of affective disorders [J Affect Disord] 2026 Sep 01; Vol. 408, pp. 121839. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Apr 22. |
| Τύπος έκδοσης: | Journal Article |
| Γλώσσα: | English |
| Στοιχεία περιοδικού: | Publisher: Elsevier/North-Holland Biomedical Press Country of Publication: Netherlands NLM ID: 7906073 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1573-2517 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 01650327 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Affect Disord Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: Amsterdam, Elsevier/North-Holland Biomedical Press. |
| Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): | Depression, Postpartum*/psychology , Depression, Postpartum*/epidemiology , Family Conflict*/psychology , Mothers*/psychology , Conflict, Psychological* , Intergenerational Relations* , Social Support*, China/epidemiology ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Family Support ; Longitudinal Studies ; Risk Factors |
| Περίληψη: | Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) remains a major public health concern. In China, the postpartum period is embedded within a family-based caregiving system characterized by intensive intergenerational involvement. Within this context, intergenerational support (IS) and intergenerational conflict (IC) often coexist, forming a distinct stress-regulation environment. Guided by the stress-buffering model of social support, this study conceptualizes the Chinese postpartum family as a dynamic system in which IS and IC jointly shape maternal mental health over time. Methods: A four-wave longitudinal design was employed. Parallel Process Latent Growth Curve Modeling (PP-LGCM) was used to examine the co-developmental trajectories of IS, IC, and PPD symptoms. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify multilevel predictors of trajectory subgroups. Results: The prevalence of elevated depressive symptoms (EPDS ≥ 9) ranged from 23.1% to 24.2% across assessments, while probable PPD (EPDS ≥ 13) ranged from 4.6% to 7.2%. PP-LGCM identified five distinct joint trajectory classes: Moderate-risk group (n = 30; 8.6%), Mild-risk group (n = 103; 29.7%), Improving group (n = 45; 13.0%), Resistant group (n = 139; 40.1%), and High-risk group (n = 30; 8.6%). Trajectory membership was significantly associated with living arrangement, sleep quality, psychological flexibility, and partner relationship. Conclusions: In the urban Chinese postpartum context, PPD symptom trajectories are closely linked to intergenerational family dynamics. These findings underscore the need for family-based prevention and treatment that, when feasible, engages parents/parents-in-law (and partners) to align caregiving expectations and roles, particularly for women in high-risk or worsening trajectory subgroups. (Copyright © 2026. Published by Elsevier B.V.) |
| Competing Interests: | Declaration of competing interest The authors confirmed that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest, and there are no competing interests to declare. |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Chinese family; Intergenerational conflict; Intergenerational support; Parallel Process Latent Growth Curve Model; Postpartum depression |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260424 Date Completed: 20260715 Latest Revision: 20260716 |
| Update Code: | 20260716 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.jad.2026.121839 |
| PMID: | 42031017 |
| Βάση Δεδομένων: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 1573-2517 |
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| DOI: | 10.1016/j.jad.2026.121839 |