Life stress as a risk factor for postpartum depression: Current research and methodological issues

There is compelling evidence to suggest that acute adverse life events and certain stressors specific to motherhood increase the risk of maternity blu es and diagnoses of postpartum depression. Other psychosocial factors that are likely to explain vulnerability to postpartum depression include previo us history of depression and the stress-moderating effects of social suppor t and coping responses. This article reviews the emerging empirical literat ure on stress and postpartum depression and presents a discussion of method ological issues relevant to advancing this area of research. Multivariate m odels that examine the interplay of these variables are now required to fur ther our understanding of these syndromes.