Mental Health Education Research Articles

The Thoughtful program: a randomized controlled study of a mentalization-based mental health education intervention in a psychiatric outpatient population

Background P-factor and mentalizing theory and research set perspectives for transdiagnostic psychiatric treatments. Aims To test the effects of a low-cost mentalization-based health education program (the Thoughtful program) in an unselected waiting list population, from a psychiatric outpatient clinic in North Norway. Methods Waiting list patients were randomized (1:1 allocation): 79 patients in the control group were offered standard individual assessment and treatment. Seventy-nine patients in the intervention group were offered a one-day (six-hour) group-based Thoughtful course, plus individual assessment, and treatment. Results During a 6-month follow-up period, the number of patients in active assessment and treatment was 66% higher in the control group than in the intervention group. Self-reported patient questionnaire scores on mentalizing, well-being and suicidal ideation scores showed no significant changes in the control group. In the intervention group, significant changes were reported: Mentalizing scores improved by 72% and well-being scores improved by 55%. Suicidal ideation scores were not significantly changed. No adverse effects were registered. Limitations The results from this study should be interpreted with caution because of a small population size and low questionnaire response rate. The follow up period was limited to 6 months. Transfer of program information from intervention group patients to control group patients could not be guaranteed. It may be considered a limitation that diagnostic pattern analysis was not included in the study. Conclusions A low-cost transdiagnostic mentalization-based educational program in an outpatient psychiatry clinic may improve patient mentalizing and wellbeing without adverse effects and reduce the use of hospital services.

EDUCAÇÃO EM SAÚDE E PREVENÇÃO DA DEPRESSÃO PÓS-PARTO: O papel da enfermagem obstétrica

The research addresses the importance of health education and prevention of postpartum depression in the context of obstetric care, highlighting the role of nursing in the care of pregnant and postpartum women. Postpartum depression is a condition that affects many women and can have serious consequences for the mother and the development of the baby. The general objective of the study was to investigate the impact of health education actionscarried out by obstetric nurses in the prevention and management of postpartum depression, focusing on detection strategies, emotional support and educational interventions. The methodology used was a literature review, covering scientific articles published between 2019 and 2024, resulting in 12 articles addressing the role of obstetric nursing in health education and prevention of postpartum depression, in which the inclusion criteria were articles published in Portuguese, and the Inclusion Criterion with the DeCS: Depression. Obstetric Nursing. Health Education. Studies in Portuguese that specifically addressed the role of these professionals in this context were included. The research was conducted through electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus and VHL, using descriptors related to mental health, childbirth and health education. The results indicate that obstetric nurses play an essential role in raising awareness and supporting women, promoting preventive practices that reduce the incidence of postpartum depression. The implementation of educational and welcoming strategies in the prenatal and postpartum period, associated with continuous emotional support, proved to be effective in improving the mental health of pregnant and postpartum women.

Relationship between physical exercise and college students’ social adaptation: the chain mediating role of self-esteem and peer attachment

ObjectivePhysical exercise is an important way for college students to keep healthy, and social adaptation is an important part of college students’ mental health. Therefore, this study explores strategies to enhance college students’ social adaptation from the perspective of physical exercise, examining the correlation between physical exercise and college students’ social adaptation, and delving into the roles of self-esteem and peer attachment in this relationship.MethodsA stratified cluster sampling method was used to collect data from 809 college students at Zhaoqing University (average age 19.88 ± 1.22, of whom 399 were male and 410 were female) using the physical exercise scale, college students’ social adaptation scale, self-esteem scale, and peer attachment scale. For data analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, structural equation modeling, and bias-corrected percentile bootstrap methods were sequentially performed.Results(1) Physical exercise was positively correlated with college students’ social adaptation (r = 0.58, p < 0.01), and the direct path between physical exercise and college students’ social adaptation was significant (β = 0.28, p < 0.01, CI[0.22, 0.33]); (2) Physical exercise was positively correlated with self-esteem (β = 0.56, p < 0.01, CI[0.50, 0.62]) and peer attachment (β = 0.18, p < 0.01, CI[0.11, 0.26]); self-esteem was positively correlated with peer attachment (β = 0.36, p < 0.01, CI[0.28, 0.43]) and college students’ social adaptation (β = 0.43, p < 0.01, CI[0.37, 0.49]); peer attachment was positively correlated with college students’ social adaptation (β = 0.18, p < 0.01, CI[0.12, 0.23]); (3) The relationship between physical exercise and social adaptation was not only mediated independently by self-esteem and peer attachment, but also indirectly by the same two factors in a chain reaction.ConclusionPhysical exercise can not only directly predict college students’ social adaptation, but also indirectly predict college students’ social adaptation through the independent mediation and chain mediation of self-esteem and peer attachment. It reveals that we should combine more important physical exercise with mental health education for students.

Turkish validity and reliability of the universal mental health literacy scale for adolescents (10-14 years): A methodological study.

Mental health literacy enables adolescents to acquire information that will accompany them in their future lives and to define their attitudes and behaviors. This study evaluated the Turkish validity and reliability of the Universal Mental Health Literacy Scale for Adolescents (10-14 years). This is a methodological, correlational, cross-sectional, and descriptive study. The study was conducted with 223 adolescents. Data were collected by 'Information Form' and 'Universal Mental Health Literacy Scale for Adolescents.' Exploratory Factor Analysis, Confirmatory Factor Analysis, and Pearson Correlation analysis were used to assess the validity and reliability of the UMHL-A. Item Content Validity Index (I-CVI) scores ranged from 0.94 to 0.96, while the Scale Content Validity Index (S-CVI) was 0.95. For 'Help-seeking and Stigma dimensions' χ2/df = 3.347, NFI = 0.804, IFI = 0.854, TLI = 0.778, CFI = 0.849, RMSEA = 0.103. For 'Knowledge of Mental Health and Knowledge of Mental Illnesses dimensions' χ2/df = 1.959, NFI = 0.731, IFI = 0.847, TLI = 0.774, CFI = 0.837, RMSEA = 0.066. The internal consistency and time stability were affirmed by a Hotelling T-square value of 15.241 and an F-test result of 27.793. This study reveals that the Turkish validity and reliability of the Universal Mental Health Literacy Scale for Adolescents is a valid and reliable tool for assessing mental health literacy among adolescents. The UMHL-A scale is a valid tool to evaluate critical aspects of mental health literacy in adolescent populations and can be used in both research and clinical practice in mental health education and intervention. It is recommended that the Turkish version of the Universal Mental Health Literacy Scale should be used to determine resilience in adolescents.

Research on the Integration of Ideological and Political Education and Mental Health Education in Undergraduate Colleges

In recent years, the integration research of ideological and political education and mental health education in undergraduate colleges has attracted much attention. The integration of the two can not only help to improve students’ ideological and political quality but also effectively promote the overall development of student’s mental health. With the rapid development and change of society, college students are facing increasingly complex psychological pressure and challenges, therefore, ideological and political education and mental health education combined, have become one of the important directions of the current higher education reform. Based on this, based on a comprehensive analysis of the close relationship between ideological and political education and mental health education, the article takes undergraduate colleges as the research object and actively explores the integration path of the two.

Association between childhood trauma and social anxiety in adolescents: The mediating role of self-compassion and loneliness

BackgroundPrevious studies have shown a correlation between childhood trauma and social anxiety. However, the underlying mechanism of this association is not well understood. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to examine the relationship between childhood trauma and social anxiety in adolescents, and to explore the mediating role of self-compassion and loneliness. Participants and settingIn total 1309 adolescents (531 of whom were female) were recruited, and their mean age was 15.4 ± 2.30 years. MethodsParticipants completed the Adolescent Social Anxiety Scale, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire Short Form, Self-Compassion Scale, and University of California, Los Angeles Loneliness Scale. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to investigate the relationships among childhood trauma, self-compassion, loneliness, and social anxiety. The PROCESS Macro Model 80 was used for regression analysis to explore the mediating effects of self-compassion and loneliness on the relationship between childhood trauma and social anxiety. ResultsAfter controlling for the influence of gender and parental marital status, self-compassion mediated the association between childhood trauma and social anxiety, in which positive self-compassion alleviated the relationship between childhood trauma and social anxiety, while negative self-compassion aggravated the relationship between childhood trauma and social anxiety. Furthermore, self-compassion and loneliness chain-mediated the relationship between childhood trauma and social anxiety. ConclusionThese results offer theoretical support for the research and intervention of adolescents' social anxiety, and are crucial for developing adolescents' mental health education and promoting interpersonal communication.

The Relationship Between Acculturative Stress, Integration Strategy, Parenting Self-Efficacy, and Multicultural Youth's Perceived Parental Support in South Korea

Over the past decades, ethnically and racially diverse populations have constantly increased in South Korea. In their acculturation, a number of multicultural families encounter acculturative stress, which can negatively influence their individual as well as relational well-being. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the association between acculturative stress of multicultural parents ( n = 2,249) and parental support perceived by multicultural youth ( n = 2,271) in South Korea. Additionally, the authors examined the potential mediating effect of parental self-efficacy moderated by parental acculturation on the association between parental acculturative stress and perceived parental support. Moderated mediation analysis was conducted to test the association between multicultural mothers’ acculturative stress and their youth's perceived level of parental support with the mediating effect of multicultural mothers’ parenting self-efficacy level moderated by integration strategy. The moderation analysis identified a significant buffering effect of achieving an integrated level of acculturation on multicultural parents’ acculturative stress and parenting self-efficacy. In addition, parenting self-efficacy significantly mediated the link between multicultural parents’ acculturative stress and multicultural youth's perceived level of parental support. Implications and future directions for mental health professionals, educators, and researchers were discussed.

Achievement motivation and mental health among medical postgraduates: the chain mediating effect of self-esteem and perceived stress

IntroductionMedical postgraduates generally experience high levels of depression and anxiety. Previous studies have investigated the impact of various achievement motivations on depression/anxiety among medical students.MethodsThis study focused on self-esteem and perceived stress, examining the internal mechanisms through which achievement motivation affects depression/anxiety. 530 medical postgraduate students (66.04% female and 33.96% male) were administered the Achievement Goal Orientation Scale, Self-Esteem Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, and Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale.ResultsResults indicated that: (1) mastery-approach goals were negatively correlated with depression/anxiety; mastery-avoidance goals were positively correlated with depression/anxiety; performance-avoidance goals positively predicted depression/anxiety; (2) self-esteem mediated the relationship between achievement motivation and depression/anxiety; (3) perceived stress played a mediating role in the relationship between achievement motivation and depression/anxiety; (4) self-esteem and perceived stress played a chain mediating role in the relationship between achievement motivation and depression/anxiety; (5) there was no significant linear correlation between mastery-approach goals and depression/anxiety.DiscussionAlthough this study employed a cross-sectional design and self-report scales, both of which have certain limitations, the findings still hold significant theoretical and practical implications. The research reveals a mediating pathway between achievement goals and mental health, offering new insights into mental health education for medical graduate students.

Restless sleep is associated with increased anxiety in physical therapy students: a cross sectional survey study

BackgroundSleep and mental health are intimately related and shown to impact graduate students enrolled in health sciences programs, including physical therapy education. Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) students’ attitudes and behaviors surrounding sleep and whether these factors are associated with mental health are unknown. This study aimed to describe sleep behaviors and attitudes of entry-level DPT students and to explore the relationship between subjectively reported sleep quality and self-reported symptoms of anxiety in these students.MethodsA cross-sectional online survey consisting of the Sleep Practices and Attitudes Questionnaire (SPAQ), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) questionnaire, and demographic questions were used. Analyses investigated sleep behaviors and attitudes, along with the relationship (unadjusted odds ratio) between restless sleep and anxiety in DPT students in hybrid and traditional DPT programs across the United States (US).ResultsA total of 271 DPT students completed the survey. A majority of students reported feeling tired during most days (80.8%, n = 219), a quarter of participants (24.7%) reported having a history of trouble sleeping and four (1.5%) reported being diagnosed with a sleep disorder. Of those who reported their sleep duration, participants slept an average of 6.86 h. The mean GAD-7 score was 7.68 (SD = 4.90), suggestive of mild anxiety. Sixty-seven (24.7%) reported having a diagnosed anxiety disorder, with generalized anxiety being the most common diagnosis. Those who reported having restless sleep were 4.09 times more likely to have moderate to severe anxiety [unadjusted odds ratio = 4.09 (95% CI 2.27,7.35; p < 0.001)] compared to those who reported restful sleep.ConclusionsDPT students who rated sleep as restless exhibit signs of poor subjective sleep quality associated with an increased risk of experiencing moderate to severe anxiety compared to students who had restful sleep. Students reported behaviors surrounding sleep that may contribute to anxiety. These findings have implications for including sleep and mental health education and practices within DPT programs.

Reflecting the voices of EFL teachers in the world of Intelligent Computer-Assisted Language Assessment (ICALA): an insight into teacher immunity, reflective teaching, job satisfaction, and L2-teacher grit

Artificial intelligence (AI) and Intelligent Computer-Assisted Language Assessment (ICALA) are transforming the educational landscape by radically changing how lessons are taught and students are evaluated. As the masterminds behind the curriculum, it is critical to consider the emotional and mental health of teachers who applied ICALA as part of their language instruction. To this end, this study’s primary objective was to examine the connections between ICALA, teacher immunity, reflective teaching, job satisfaction, and l2-teacher grit. To achieve this goal, 221 English as a foreign language (EFL) university teachers from Afghanistan participated in the current research. The research outcomes identified and quantified the influences of teacher immunity and reflective teaching on job satisfaction and L2 teacher grit by data screening utilizing confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM). According to the results, TI and RT are vital in implementing AI into language assessment by maintaining an uninterrupted JS and L2TG. The study’s ramifications are further elaborated upon.

The effect of laughter yoga on well-being, perceived stress, and academic self-efficacy in nursing students: A randomized controlled trial.

Despite rigorous theoretical and clinical training, nursing students face emotional and academic challenges that can harm their well-being. Nonetheless, there is a dearth of research investigating the impact of laughter yoga (LY) on nursing students' well-being, perceived stress, and self-efficacy. The aim of this single-blinded, two-armed randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the effect of LY on nursing students' well-being, perceived stress, and academic self-efficacy (ASE). A total of five sessions of LY were applied to the intervention group. The analysis included a total of 83 nursing students (intervention group n = 41 and control group n = 42). Repeated-measures multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and paired-samples t-test were used for data analysis. Results revealed that the intervention group showed a significant increase in well-being (p< .001) and a decrease in perceived stress after LY (p< .01). However, statistically significant differences between the intervention and control groups were not found in well-being, perceived stress, and ASE (p > .05). These results indicate the potential effects of LY on the students' well-being and perceived stress. Community mental health nurses and educators can use LY to improve well-being in universities.

Promoting Resilience in Healthcare Workers: A Preventative Mental Health Education Program.

Healthcare workers face greater risks for mental health conditions and chronic stress due to the demanding nature of their roles. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these challenges and increased vulnerabilities to long-term mental health conditions. The present study adapts an existing resilience-based educational workshop program to address the time constraints and unique needs of the healthcare workforce in a post-COVID-19 world. Expanded from its initial focus on resilience, the workshop curriculum incorporates psychoeducation on common mental health issues. Between July 2022 and June 2024, a 15 min "huddle" format offered on-site training to equip HCWs in a large urban health system with coping strategies to prevent, manage, and recover from stress. Attendance and anonymous feedback were collected at each session via brief electronic surveys. Participant responses (n = 1403) obtained immediately post-huddle suggested positive impact on stress management, perceived leadership support, and resilience. Findings show the potential of brief huddles to improve mental health and resilience in healthcare workers and similar workforces. Our findings support the efficacy of brief, evidence-based educational huddles in enhancing resilience, mental health awareness, and coping skills among HCWs. This model holds significant potential for widespread implementation across healthcare and other high-stress workplaces.

A survey on the relationship between mental health literacy and beliefs toward mental illness among nurses in general hospitals in Turkey

AimThe study aimed to determine the relationship between general nurses' mental health literacy and beliefs toward mental illness. MethodThe study involved 285 nurses aged 23 to 47 from three hospitals in western Turkey, who completed the Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS) and the Beliefs Toward Mental Illness Scale (BMIS) between December 2023 and March 2024. ResultsThose who received training on mental illnesses as students (t = 2.115, p = 0.018), those who had moderate knowledge about mental illnesses (F = 8.177, p < 0.001), those who were willing to receive training on mental illnesses (t = 1.673, p = 0.048), those who encounter individuals with mental illness in their work units (F = 11.233, p < 0.001) and those who care for individuals with mental illness in their work units (t = 1.808, p = 0.036) have higher mental health literacy levels. There was a negative relationship between nurses' negative beliefs toward mental illness levels and their mental health literacymental health literacy levels (r = −0.432, p < 0.001). ConclusionMental health literacy is a crucial element in reducing general nurses' negative beliefs about mental illnesses. Thıus, psychiatric mental health nurses can actively prevent negative beliefs and increase awareness by providing mental health education to general nurses. Awareness programs should be accorded greater emphasize on individuals who are not trained in mental disorders when they are students, those who have low knowledge about mental disorders, those who are reluctant to receive training on mental disorders, and cohorts of nurses who are likely to encounter patients with mental disorders in their respective work units.

Learning About Mental Health Lived Experience in Social Work Education

ABSTRACT Lived experience education occupies an increasingly important space in mental health education for social workers. Despite being plagued by practices that continue to be discriminating and exclusionary, the mental health policy and practice context demand robust attention to the meaningful inclusion of service users and their families to achieve genuine partnership, reciprocity, and equality in mental health service provision. For social work educators, lived experience education is now an indispensable component of a critically informed mental health curriculum and pedagogy. Framed within an appeal for epistemic justice, this article reports on qualitative survey data from social work students who experienced teaching from people with lived experience. Findings show that students greatly valued lived experience education, as it created opportunities for authentic and more diverse understandings of mental health that fostered critical reflection. A curriculum that supports epistemic equality and a social justice agenda would help scaffold lived experience expertise for student learning. IMPLICATIONS Mental health lived experience education positively impacts social work students’ values and attitudes towards mental health service users. Lived experience education supports social work students to expand their understandings of mental health and recovery beyond dominant biomedical perspectives. Genuine valuing of lived experience knowledge and expertise in social work education helps address epistemic injustice.

KONSEP KESEHATAN MENTAL DALAM PENDIDIKAN ISLAM Analisis Pemikiran Prof. Zakiah Daradjat

Abstract: This study aims to determine and describe the concept of mental health according to Zakiyah Daradjat through Islamic education. This study uses a descriptive qualitative research method with a library research approach, namely a study conducted by searching for and discussing related literature or books. The data sources used are Zakiyah Daradjat's books as primary data sources and other books related to the research object as secondary data sources. The results of this study indicate that the concept of Islamic education in mental health according to Zakiah Daradjat is a change in attitude and behavior in accordance with the instructions of Islamic teachings, aimed at improving mental attitudes that are manifested in actions, both for the needs of oneself (individual) and others (society). Islamic education plays a role in controlling these morals and personalities. With Islamic guidance, students are helped to improve their personalities starting from the basic aspects, namely their mental condition. The concept is divided into two, namely: (1) theoretically (2) practically. Both theories include: (a) recognition, understanding, and urgency of individual mental health (b) ways of guidance that are carried out in real educational environments (family, school, community) by paying attention to the psychological development of students (c) instructions for handling mental health problems, namely by worshiping and getting closer to Allah Ta'ala.

Child maltreatment and insomnia symptoms among Chinese university students: the buffering role of self-efficacy.

Insomnia symptoms represent a significant public health concern, as it engenders substantial long-term health consequences. Considerable research has established the detrimental impacts of child maltreatment on sleep problems among university students. However, the role of self-efficacy in the association between childhood maltreatment and insomnia remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the associations between child maltreatment and insomnia symptoms among university students, and to investigate whether self-efficacy moderated the effects of child maltreatment on insomnia symptoms. A total of 2014 participants with random cluster sampling method were recruited from Jinan University in Guangzhou, China, from October 2022 to November 2022. Adjusting for covariates, the results of multiple logistic regression indicated that the participants with the experience of any type of child maltreatment (odds ratio [OR] 2.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.63-3.07), childhood emotional abuse (OR 2.58, 95% CI 1.95-3.41), childhood emotional neglect (OR 1.16, 95% CI 0.87-1.54), childhood physical abuse (OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.60-2.8), childhood physical neglect (OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.64-2.92), childhood sexual abuse (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.46-2.68) were more likely to report insomnia symptoms than those without. Individuals reporting one-two types and three-five types of child maltreatment were 1.81 times (95% CI 1.30-2.52) and 3.77 times (95% CI 2.58-5.50) more likely to report insomnia symptoms than those reporting zero types of child maltreatment, respectively. Furthermore, robust linear regression analysis revealed that self-efficacy moderated the associations between child maltreatment and insomnia symptoms (β = 0.007, 95% CI 0.004-0.010). These findings underscore the need for integrated mental health education, support services, and faculty training to address the impact of child maltreatment on insomnia symptoms among university students. Policy recommendations include advocating for comprehensive mental health services, incorporating self-efficacy initiatives, and fostering community engagement for a holistic approach to student well-being.

Mental Health Literacy Reduces Mental Disorder Stigma in Society

The general background mental health issues remain a major global health challenge, including in Indonesia, where mental illness is often stigmatized. Specific background mental illness stigma is prevalent in society, manifesting in negative attitudes towards individuals with mental disorders, thus affecting their acceptance and treatment. Knowledge gap there is limited research exploring the relationship between mental health literacy and mental illness stigma within community settings in Indonesia. This study aims to investigate the correlation between mental health literacy and mental disorder stigma among residents of a selected community. Results the findings reveal a significant negative correlation between mental health literacy and mental disorder stigma, indicating that higher levels of mental health literacy are associated with lower levels of stigma. Novelty this study contributes to the limited body of knowledge by demonstrating that improving mental health literacy can effectively reduce mental disorder stigma in community settings. Implications these results suggest that public health interventions focusing on mental health education may help reduce stigmatization, fostering a more supportive environment for individuals with mental health disorders, which may ultimately lead to better access to mental health services and outcomes. Highlights: Higher mental health literacy lowers mental disorder stigma. Stigma reduction improves mental health support in communities. Public health education can reduce mental disorder misconceptions. Keywords: Mental Health, Mental Disorder, Stigma, Community Attitudes, Education

Stress and depression among male police officers in Taiwan: Severity, determinants, and coping strategies.

Police work, known for its high stress, exhibits elevated depression rates. This study explores stress and depression in male officers, examining personality traits, coping strategies, family, and social support. Aligned with the diathesis-stress hypothesis and job demands-resources model, it aims to illuminate these factors in policing. Two hundred and sixty-four male police officers from Yunlin, Taiwan were enrolled in this study. Structured measurements of stress level, depression symptoms, personality traits, family functioning, and social support were made. We used multiple regression analysis to assess predictors of stress level and depression and identified coping strategies used by the police officers. Of the 264 male police officers, 36.4% had clinically significant depression. Occupational stress was mostly related to organizational factors. Multivariate regression analyses showed that age, personality traits, officer's rank, and period of education obtained could predict police officers' occupational stress. Personality traits, social support, occupational stress, and period of education obtained could predict depression. The most frequently used coping strategies were drinking and smoking. The results of our study support the diathesis-stress hypothesis and the job demands-resources model. Enhancing male police officers' mental well-being requires addressing key factors like social support and occupational stress. Strategic measures, such as mental health education, destigmatization, counseling, and community-building, are vital. Policymakers should collaborate with mental health professionals for tailored interventions, fostering a healthier work environment.

Improving mental health response in earthquake-prone regions: recommendations following the recent earthquake in Türkiye

We are members of Students’ Education, Empowerment and Development in Mental Health, a group of medical students and psychiatrists from around the globe under the Psychiatry, Medicine and Primary Care Section of the World Psychiatric Association. In this article, we put forward recommendations to help improve the mental health response in disaster-prone regions such as Türkiye. We recommend a three-step multi-tiered mental health response system that could significantly help to address the immediate, short-term and long-term mental health needs of communities directly affected by a disaster. The recommendation draws from the relevant literature and, most importantly, from our lived experiences of living in earthquake-prone countries.

Prevalence of Postpartum Depression and Its Sociodemographic and Obstetric Determinants among Mothers Attending a Maternity Hospital in Kenya: A Cross-Sectional Study

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a significant global public health concern affecting 17.7% and 18.7% of mothers globally and in Kenya respectively. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of postpartum depression and to explore its sociodemographic and obstetric determinants among mothers attending the postnatal and maternal and child health clinics at Eldoret West Maternity Hospital in Kenya. Unfortunately, postpartum depression and its determinants often go undiagnosed or untreated, leading to inadequate documentation of its impacts. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed, involving 257 women aged 18-49 years with infants aged 6-14 weeks postpartum. Participants were randomly selected using a simple random sampling method. Data was collected using a modified version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) translated to Swahili. Descriptive analysis, Chi-squared analysis, and odds ratios were used to assess associations between sociodemographic factors, obstetric variables, and postpartum depression. The study found a prevalence of postpartum depression among participants to be 17.5%, with a higher likelihood of postpartum depression among mothers who were; older (aged 31-49 years) (68.9%), married (77.8%), with higher education levels (80%), lower income (82.2%), and those not formally employed (82.2%). Obstetric factors such as parity of greater than two (53.3%), unplanned pregnancy (53.3%) preference for male infants (62.2%) with having had unresolved issues (p-value &lt; 0.01) in the past month and a parity of greater than two (p-value&lt;0.05) were found to be significantly associated with higher odds of PPD. The prevalence of maternal postpartum depression among mothers 6-14 weeks postpartum at Eldoret West maternity Hospital, Uasin Gishu County was found to be 17.5%. Several sociodemographic and obstetric factors are linked and predispose women to PPD. Based on the conclusions, we recommend early intervention and support for young mothers, prenatal and postnatal complication screening, mental health education, and awareness.