TY - JOUR
T1 - Mediating effect of psychological capital on the relationship between perceived social support and antenatal depression
AU - Han, Lu
AU - Sun, Yu
AU - Wu, Jiaxin
AU - Zhao, Yan
AU - Bai, Jinbing
AU - Liu, Juan
AU - Liu, Yanqun
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2025.
PY - 2025/8
Y1 - 2025/8
N2 - This exploratory research aimed to test the mediating effect of psychological capital on the relationship between perceived social support and antenatal depression. A total of 528 pregnant women recruited from the obstetric outpatient clinics of two tertiary hospitals were analyzed in the research. The general demographic questionnaire, Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS) were completed by the participants. Multiple linear regression was used to further clarify the level of influence among perceived social support, psychological capital, and antenatal depression. Structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis was used to examine the hypothesized mediating effect of psychological capital on the relationship between perceived social support and antenatal depression. Results showed that perceived social support had an indirect influence through psychological capital, which functioned as a mediator between perceived social support and antenatal depression. Findings of this research might help better explore the underlying mechanisms between perceived social support and antenatal depression. Understanding the mediating effect of psychological capital may lay a theoretical foundation for formulating an effective new management model for pregnant women with antenatal depression.
AB - This exploratory research aimed to test the mediating effect of psychological capital on the relationship between perceived social support and antenatal depression. A total of 528 pregnant women recruited from the obstetric outpatient clinics of two tertiary hospitals were analyzed in the research. The general demographic questionnaire, Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS) were completed by the participants. Multiple linear regression was used to further clarify the level of influence among perceived social support, psychological capital, and antenatal depression. Structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis was used to examine the hypothesized mediating effect of psychological capital on the relationship between perceived social support and antenatal depression. Results showed that perceived social support had an indirect influence through psychological capital, which functioned as a mediator between perceived social support and antenatal depression. Findings of this research might help better explore the underlying mechanisms between perceived social support and antenatal depression. Understanding the mediating effect of psychological capital may lay a theoretical foundation for formulating an effective new management model for pregnant women with antenatal depression.
KW - Antenatal depression
KW - Perceived social support
KW - Pregnancy
KW - Psychological capital
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105010154426
U2 - 10.1007/s12144-025-08170-7
DO - 10.1007/s12144-025-08170-7
M3 - Journal article
SN - 1046-1310
VL - 44
SP - 13847
EP - 13858
JO - Current Psychology
JF - Current Psychology
IS - 15
ER -
