Healing Together: The Role of Social Support in Postpartum Depression
Scientifically reviewed by Stephen Braren, Ph.D. & Rose Perry, Ph.D.
Postpartum depression isn’t just a personal struggle; it’s a matter of social health that involves not only individual parents, but also their infants, partners, families, and communities. Research shows that social factors, particularly social support, play a critical role in the development, prevention, and treatment of postpartum depression. By recognizing and addressing postpartum mental health as a shared, community-wide responsibility, rather than an individual burden, we can create conditions where parents don’t just survive the postpartum period but truly thrive.
Highlights:
● Postpartum depression is typically framed as an individual struggle rooted in biological changes and personal difficulties, but social factors play a critical role in both risk and recovery.
● Research shows that having strong social support reduces the risk of developing symptoms of postpartum depression and makes it more likely that symptoms will improve over time, even in high-stress circumstances.
● Fathers and non-birthing parents can also experience postpartum depression, with many of the same symptoms that birthing mothers experience, and just like mothers, they benefit when they have strong social support.
● Partners, family, friends, and healthcare systems must actively create a culture of care, offering support proactively, as a standard part of postpartum well-being without waiting to be asked.
Postpartum Depression and Social Relationships
Postpartum depression (PPD) is most often viewed as a personal struggle experienced by individual parents. In reality, it is a social health issue that involves families, friendships, and communities. Although the traditional approach to managing PPD has focused mainly on individual biological and psychological factors, a more holistic approach that centers social support, offers both a clearer picture of the factors that contribute to it and more comprehensive strategies for prevention and healing.
What exactly is Postpartum Depression?
PPD goes beyond the “baby blues” or feeling like a worn-out parent. It is a clinical depressive episode that emerges within the first year after a baby is born—most commonly in the first few weeks—and can last for months to over a year if untreated.
Although PPD is most commonly associated with mothers, fathers and other non-birthing parents can also experience it, often in ways that go unrecognized. On an individual level, PPD can manifest as intense sadness, helplessness, mood swings, and difficulty bonding with the baby. Parents may also experience a loss of interest in normal activities, changes in sleep or appetite, fatigue, irritability, feelings of guilt or worthlessness, difficulty thinking, and feeling suicidal [1]. Research shows that mothers and fathers experience many of the same core symptoms of PPD, such as sadness, loss of interest, and fatigue, though fathers may be more likely to show irritability, withdrawal, or face unique stressors related to identity [17].
Across all parents, social support plays a protective role: parents who feel emotionally supported by partners, family, and friends report fewer symptoms and better recovery outcomes [5, 11]. PPD is not uncommon, affecting between 13% and 19% of mothers, and between 7% and 9% of fathers, underscoring the need for family- and community-level awareness and support [3, 18].
It can be difficult to recognize signs of PPD because the transition to parenthood involves many changes and new responsibilities. However, it’s important for parents and their loved ones to not ignore or downplay these symptoms because early intervention can lead to prevention and recovery [2].
Beyond the individual, PPD has significant social consequences. Parents with depression often face challenges in their relationships and parenting responsibilities, which can increase health risks for not only parents, but also their children and loved ones [9, 15]. For example, parents experiencing symptoms of depression are likely to express more negative emotions to others, imagine the worst from others, and have difficulty understanding others’ emotions [4, 7, 18]. Even with relatively low levels of depression, parents may have difficulty being responsive to and bonding with their baby [13, 21]. For these reasons it’s necessary to consider the social aspects of PPD, and to focus on the integral role of social support in prevention and treatment.
The Need for Social Support in Postpartum Care
Among all known risk factors for postpartum depression, low social support has emerged as one of the most consistent and significant predictors [10]. For example, one study by White et al. found that lower social support during the pandemic was associated with higher risk of PPD and poorer mother-child bonding [20].
Another recent study showed that mothers facing financial struggles, unsafe and noisy neighborhoods, intimate partner violence, and low social support were more likely to experience worsening or persistently high levels of depression [12]. However, many mothers who showed concerning levels of depression around childbirth gradually recovered over five years–but only if they had strong social support. Even in the presence of stress and other risk factors, feeling supported made all the difference.
Across studies, the message is clear: low social support heightens the risk of postpartum depression, while robust social support can protect against it and promote recovery.
Ultimately, that protection comes from real relationships, with people showing up for parents when it matters most. Parents experiencing PPD report seeking and receiving support from their romantic partners, immediate families, extended families, friends, and communities [16]. Because no single source can meet every need, building a diverse support network matters; different people can offer different kinds of care, and together they form a protective network that helps parents feel less alone.
Supporting Parents with Postpartum Depression
The transition to parenthood and the pressures of caregiving, including lack of sleep, and hormonal changes, can contribute to PPD. It is normal for this transition to be new and difficult, and every new parent needs to make adjustments, learn new skills, and overcome challenges. It is not unusual for this transition to be accompanied by PPD, and when this happens, parents and their loved ones need to acknowledge and address it together.
Research shows that parents experiencing PPD benefit most from three types of social support [14]:
Emotional support: Providing a caring and nonjudgmental ear, often without jumping to try to problem-solve.
Informational support: Providing knowledge and resources that may be helpful in finding solutions.
Instrumental support: Providing hands-on help with daily needs, like preparing meals, helping with household chores, caring for the baby so parents can rest, or simply making sure they have time to eat and care for themselves.
The first step for anyone giving or receiving support is to acknowledge that symptoms of PPD are present. This can be difficult because the stigma and self-judgment often make it hard for parents to admit, even to themselves, that they’re struggling or need help. This is especially true for parents experiencing PPD because there is an expectation that welcoming a new baby will be a singularly joyous time. Many parents with PPD report feeling like they will be judged for needing help, like they are a burden, and like no one will understand what they are going through [14]. But these experiences are not usual, and they’re not anyone’s fault. As a parent experiencing PPD, it‘s important to recognize that the experience is not abnormal, it’s not anyone’s fault, it’s temporary, and help is available.
When seeking emotional support, parents need others who can give them hope that things will get better, provide them with care, affection, and a space where they can be honest and open about what they are going through [6]. Family and friends can provide this type of support, but it can also be helpful for parents experiencing PPD to seek out professional therapy or join a peer support group with other parents [19]. Research indicates that parents with PPD can benefit more from finding a group for parents also experiencing PPD rather than a general new parent group [8]. This type of group can provide important validation, safety, authenticity, and a lack of judgement.
Peer support groups also provide opportunities for informational support including the sharing of perspectives, experiences, knowledge, practical guidance, and wisdom. For example, parents report sharing their experiences with trying out coping strategies, offering advice for talking with their physicians, and discussing their personal experiences utilizing medication [6].
Instrumental support, in terms of practical help with daily needs, is generally received from intimate partners and immediate family members [14]. Yet many parents say they feel they shouldn’t have to ask for this kind of help from loved ones. When that support doesn’t happen, the risk of postpartum depression increases. Waiting for a parent to reach out for help is not enough. Partners, family, and friends should proactively create a culture of caring, offering help without waiting for a direct request.
A New Vision for Social Support in Postpartum Care
Social support is a fundamental part of postpartum health and well-being. Partners, family, and friends can provide much needed support for parents and alleviate the symptoms of depression and lower the risk for developing PPD. But to give parents the support they need, stronger support structures must be created in our healthcare systems, workplaces, and communities. Only by treating postpartum mental health as a social and community-wide responsibility rather than an individual burden can we create the conditions where parents don’t just survive the postpartum period but truly thrive.
If you or someone you know in New York City is struggling with postpartum depression, our Bonded by Baby program offers free, clinician-guided group sessions that build connection, normalize the challenges of early parenthood, and promote recovery through community.
Learn more about Bonded by Baby
Cite this article:
Ku*, S., & Hooper*, E. (2025, October 10). Healing Together: The Role of Social Support in Postpartum Depression. The Creature Times, Social Creatures. https://www.thesocialcreatures.org/thecreaturetimes/social-support-postpartum-depression
*Both authors contributed equally to this publication
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