3 - (SYM 116) Prospective Associations of Prenatal Relationship Happiness and Postpartum Depression Among At-risk Low-income Couples

Postpartum depression (PPD) affects 12% of women and 9% of men, with higher rates in low-income and ethnic minority populations. Untreated mothers’ and fathers’ PPD have lasting negative effects on infants’ well-being, encompassing a wide range of outcomes. Thus, it is critical to identify modifiable risk factors that contribute to PPD. Although Whisman et al. (2021) concluded that relationship distress is a causal risk factor for depression, no prior study has tested this hypothesis during the perinatal period for both parents. The current study addresses this gap by examining the prospective within-person and cross-partner associations of prenatal relationship happiness and postpartum depressive symptoms.

Data were collected from mixed-gender, low-income couples (N = 450; median annual household income in $25,000-$29,999 range; 37% White, 34% Black/African American, 19% Hispanic/Latino/a) during pregnancy and one-year later. During pregnancy, 41% of women and 30% of men reported a level of depressive symptoms suggestive of risk for clinical depression. Analysis was conducted in Mplus under the Actor Partner Interdependence Modeling framework. Specifically, the prospective associations of one’s prenatal relationship happiness and their own and their partners’ postpartum depressive symptoms were examined while accounting for the effects of one’s own and one’s partner’s prenatal depressive symptoms. Gender differences were also examined.

Overall, there was no gender differences (Χ2(4) = 1.71, p = .79). For both mothers and fathers, after accounting for the effects of one’s own (B = .44, p < .001) and partner’s prenatal depressive symptoms (B = -.05, p = .33), one’s own (B = -.57, p = .01) and one’s partner’s prenatal relationship happiness (B = -.57, p = .01) significantly and prospectively predicted one’s postpartum depressive symptoms. Lower scores of prenatal relationship happiness were predictive of higher levels of postpartum depressive symptoms.  

These findings are consistent with the existing body of literature, providing additional support for relationship distress as a risk factor for depression during the perinatal period in both men and women. Further, the observed partner effect underscores the importance of considering the relationship experiences of both parents in targeted prevention efforts for PPD. Taken together, these findings suggest that efforts aimed at preventing PPD could benefit from working with both parents, with a focus on improving the overall quality of couples’ relationships.