Across the United States, thousands of mothers of newborns are fighting a common enemy: postpartum depression. In 2022, the Centers for Disease Control found that 23% of pregnancy-related deaths stemmed from worsened mental health conditions, making them the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths. Postpartum depression is so much more than a phenomenon known as the “baby blues.” The American Psychiatric Association classifies the “baby blues” as lasting one to two weeks with symptoms of restlessness, irritability, anxiety, and crying for no reason. While the “baby blues” typically resolve itself, postpartum depression takes professional intervention to improve the mother’s mental health. This information is especially prevalent given the rise in postpartum depression diagnoses and how postpartum depression affects some demographics of mothers more than others.

In a recently published study, a research team led by Khadka explored trends regarding postpartum depression, or PPD, over the past ten years, emphasizing trends between demographics of race, ethnicity, and body mass index. Analyzing 442,308 pregnancies occurring from 2010 through 2021 with still- and live births occurring at least 20 weeks into gestation, the researchers give critical results into staggering trends in diagnoses and patients with postpartum depression. Here is what the researchers found.

Startling General Trends

Of the 442,308 individuals included in the study, 61,556, or 13.9%, were diagnosed with postpartum depression, prescribed antidepressants within a year of childbirth, or both. Rates of postpartum depression increased nearly 10% (from 9.4 to 19.0%) over the ten years of the study. 

Several distinctions appeared when comparing the individuals diagnosed with postpartum depression and those without diagnoses. When compared to those without postpartum depression, those diagnosed were likely to be older mothers, ranging in age from 30 to 40. Diagnosed individuals had a higher likelihood of being non-Hispanic White and non-Hispanic Black. This group was found more likely to have not given birth for the first time and showed higher rates of obesity. Individuals with postpartum depression were also found to be more likely to smoke or consume alcohol at some point during their pregnancy. The distinctions of age, consumption of alcohol or smoking, and body mass are particularly interesting, as they could all contribute to additional physical stress on the pregnant body. 

Disproportionately Affected Races & Ethnicities

While rates of postpartum depression increased for all ethnicities and races from 2010 to 2021, some groups had a greater likelihood of being diagnosed than others. Relative to their population size, individuals of Asian and Pacific Islander descent saw the highest increase in postpartum depression in the ten years, with diagnoses increasing 10.2%. Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic individuals saw the second and third most increases relative to their populations in the study, with diagnoses increasing by 12.8% and 9.9% among the respective groups. Those belonging to multiple ethnic and race groups (including Native Americans and Alaska Natives) saw an increase of 7.8% and non-Hispanic White individuals saw an increase of 8.3% relative to their populations. The largest overall increases were seen in Asian and Pacific Islander participants and non-Hispanic Black participants, with the former seeing a 280% increase and the latter seeing a 140% increase. 

Body Mass Index: Playing a Factor

The body mass index (BMI) of an individual also plays a factor in the likelihood of a postpartum depression diagnosis. Individuals across all five BMI classifications (underweight, normal weight, overweight, class I obesity, and class II/III obesity) saw an increase in diagnoses of postpartum depression. Similarly to the data on races and ethnicities, specific BMI groups saw an increase in diagnoses of postpartum depression. Individuals classified as being “obese” (class I BMI) or “morbidly obese” (class II/III BMI) saw particularly high rates of postpartum depression. Throughout the study, class I individuals increased from 11.0% to 21.2% in rates of diagnosis, and class II/III individuals increased from 14.9% to 24.4%, meaning that those with the highest body mass index experienced the greatest rates of postpartum depression diagnoses. When viewing the interaction between delivery year, race and ethnicity, and body mass index, the increasing trends across different BMI classes are similar across the race and ethnicity groups. 

What Action Must Be Taken

Across the ten years of this study, individuals across all ethnic and racial groups, in addition to all categories of body mass index, saw significant increases in diagnoses of postpartum depression. This rise in diagnoses of postpartum depression could, at least partially, be attributed to improved practices in psychological screenings and proper diagnoses. However, the burden that postpartum depression places on mothers highlights the ever-increasing need for better forms of mental health treatment to ensure improved outcomes in the mental health of mothers. This ever-increasing need is also extended to equitable treatment needs across different demographics of individuals. Postpartum depression’s impact on the well-being of both mother and child could be mitigated if efforts are steered toward addressing the mental health needs of certain groups with considerable risk, like women with greater body mass index. Alleviating health disparities based on race and ethnicity should also be of top priority if healthcare professionals want to see a decrease in postpartum depression diagnoses. This study stresses how closer monitoring and continued research on postpartum depression is necessary, providing great insight into how to shape public health initiatives regarding the well-being of mothers and children.

Sawyer Wampler is a senior at the Honors College of Missouri State University. They are double majoring in Political Science and Communication Studies while also serving as a research assistant for Dr. Alicia M. Walker in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Gerontology. You can follow them and their academic/professional pursuits on Twitter/X at @wampler_sawyer