Relationships among depression during pregnancy, social support and health locus of control among Iranian pregnant women

Background: Prenatal depression is a significant predictor of postpartum depression and is detrimental to fetal development. Aim: To examine whether depression during pregnancy is associated with social support and health locus of control (HLC). Method: Data were collected from a sample of 208 Iranian pregnant women using a demographic questionnaire, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the multidimensional HLC Scale and the social support appraisals. Results: Depression was experienced by 37% of participants. Overall, women reported higher level of family support (6.881.15) than other supports (6.87 +/- 1.29). Protective supports from other resources (6.87 +/- 1.29) were higher than those from friends (5.94 +/- 1.5). Internal, powerful others and chance beliefs had the highest mean scores. Social support and chance HLC significantly influenced the proposed mediator (depressive mood) in the linear regression model. Bivariate analysis showed significant associations between social support (friend, family and others) and depressive mood. Internal HLC had a significant association with social support and powerful others HLC. However, Pearson correlation coefficient was not significant between depressive mood and all dimensions of HLC. Conclusion: Clinicians could assess social support and chance HLC to identify and treat women at risk of prenatal depression. By providing support during pregnancy, depression levels in women and its effects on the fetus may be decreased, which could prevent postpartum depression.