Predictors of postpartum depressive symptoms in Icelandic women

Objective: The aim of the survey was to investigate the prevalence of postpartum depressive symptoms among Icelandic women and the predictive capacity of parental stress and infant difficulty. Method: A sample of women (n = 734), 2-3 months after giving birth was studied by mailed questionnaires that included the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS); Parent Stress Index/Short Form (PSI/SF) and the Infant Difficulty Index (IDI). Demographic questions were also included. Results: The mean for depressive symptoms was 6.5, with 14% of the women experiencing frequent symptoms. Maternal stress and worries about health of the infant predicted depressive symptoms best. These variables explained 34% of the variance and social variables did not add to prediction. Conclusion: Maternal stress and worries about infant health are suggested as powerful predictors of postpartum depressive symptoms and are useful indicators for planning health care of mothers with young infants.