Postpartum depression, perceived social support, and quality of life in mothers of preterm infants: a cross-sectional correlational study

Preterm birth poses significant challenges for both infants and their mothers, affecting maternal mental health and overall quality of life. This study aimed to examine the relationship between postpartum depression (PPD), perceived social support and quality of life in mothers of preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). This cross-sectional, and correlational study was conducted with 90 mothers of preterm infants receiving treatment in the NICU of a hospital in Istanbul/Turkey. Data were collected using the Mother and Infant Information Form, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF). The mean age of the mothers was 31.2 ± 6.3 years, with 36.7% having completed high school. The mean EPDS score was 10.52 ± 4.80, the mean MSPSS general score was 62.14 ± 14.66, and the mean WHOQOL-BREF general quality of life score was 73.87 ± 9.28, It was found that 31.1% of the mothers were at risk for depression. Both PPD and perceived social support were significantly associated with overall quality of life and its dimensions (p < 0.001). The study found that higher levels of PPD were related to lower quality of life, whereas higher perceived social support was related to better quality of life. To improve the quality of life of mothers of preterm infants, it is important to develop strategies for the prevention, early detection, and treatment of PPD, and to increase awareness and strengthening of social support resources.