From Delivery to Depression: Exploring the Role of Perceived Partner Support in the Link Between Obstetric Violence and Postpartum Depression

Obstetric violence is linked to postpartum depression, yet the mechanisms underlying this relationship remain underexplored. This study examined perceived partner support as a mediating mechanism among 535 women who had given birth within the past 18 months. Results indicated that obstetric violence was associated with higher postpartum depression and lower perceived partner support. Perceived partner support was negatively related to depression. Mediation analyses showed that perceived partner support partially mediated the association between obstetric abuse and violence and postpartum depression and fully mediated the link between perceived obstetric violence and postpartum depression. These findings suggest that obstetric violence may contribute to depressive symptoms partly by undermining women's perceptions of partner support.