Some socio-demographic factors associated with high psychometric levels of depression in women in the postpartum period

A total of 126 postpartum women were examined using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Two groups were identified: 1) the group at risk of postpartum depression (PPD) (27 people, 21.4%); 2) the group of clinically expressed postpartum depression (PPD) (99 people, 78.6%). The calculations showed the homogeneity of variances of the compared subgroups (Levine’s homogeneity criterion = 1.900, p = 0.154) and a significant difference in intergroup variance at the trend level (F = 2.987, p = 0.054). Based on the homogeneity of variances indicator, the Scheffe method was chosen for intergroup pairwise post hoc comparison. The average value of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) sum of the unmarried examined women was higher at the trend level compared to those examined in unregistered relationships (p = 0.069). There were no significant differences between those examined with registered/unregistered relationships (p=0.218). According to the results of the study, the marital status of those examined was a significant factor determining belonging to the risk group for PPD/clinically expressed PPD group. The difference between the obtained results and previous studies is that the only factor predicting a woman’s belonging to the risk group for PPD or clinically expressed PPD is the quality of her marital relationship.

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