Abstract

Research has shown that an elevated level of depressive symptomatology serves as a strong predictor of postpartum depression. As part of a prospective study of postpartum depression, we examined the prevalence of prepartum depression and on the basis of stress-vulnerability model, various intrapersonal and interpersonal vulnerability factors were examined in explaining prepartum depression. Two hundred and seventy-five women were recruited both through the obstetrics department of a large hospital and private practices. They were assessed on sociodemographic variables and on measures of depressive symptomatology, stress factors and intrapersonal vulnerability factors(depression history, personality characteristics, self-esteem) and interpersonal vulnerability factors(marital adjustment, social support). As a result, 12.0% of subject(N=275) had prepartum depression. we found out that sociodemographic variables, intrapersonal(personality characteristics and self-esteem) and interpersonal(marital adjustment and social support) vulnerability factors, and interaction of stress and vulnerability accounted for 47% of the variance in depressive symptomatology during pregnancy. Overall, results supported the stress-vulnerability model and implications for identification and preventive intervention of high-risk pregnant women for depression were discussed.