Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

Background: Depression has often been considered as a major cause of human health threats in the world. The goal of the current study was to predict postpartum depression among women attended health care centers in Shiraz based on parental bonding, history of anxiety, and depression .

Methods: In this regard, 120 women with postpartum depression were selected among the women who had delivered in hospitals of Shiraz using convenience sampling method. The tools were Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), Postnatal Depression Scale (Edinburgh), and the checklist of anxiety and depression using diagnostic criteria of anxiety and mood disorders (DSM- IV-IR). Data were analyzed using multiple regression analysis with stepwise method through SPSS v.16.

Findings: The linear regression model showed that extraordinary protective factors of caring father (p<0.001) and mother (p<0.001) have significant effect on depression. Considering the calculated coefficient determinant (R²=0.44), the extraordinary protective factors of caring father and mother, predicted 44% of postpartum depression. It means that 44% of changes by postpartum depression in caused by the extraordinary protective factors of caring father and mother.