Table 3.
Risk factors for MB.
| Domain | Risk Factors | Association |
|---|---|---|
| Gynecological | History of premenstrual dysphoric disorders or other menstrual-related mood changes [34] | + |
| Medical | Personal history of mood disorders [34,39,61] | ++ |
| Family history of mental disease [3,25,35] | + | |
| Smoke [39] | + | |
| Psychosocial | Low maternal care in childhood [62] | + |
| Lower level of education [3,39,62,63] | ++ | |
| Lack of social support [63] | ++ | |
| Marital status [39] | + | |
| Years of marriage [10] | + | |
| Low economic status [3,11,25] | ++ | |
| Obstetrical | MB or other mood disorders in previous pregnancy [12,19,41,64] | ++ |
| Parity (conflicting results) [11,25,43,65,66,67] | +/− | |
| Unplanned versus planned pregnancy [11,25,43,65,66,67] | + | |
| Sleep disruption [68] | + | |
| Maternal touch [12] | +/− | |
| Female baby [19] | + | |
| Labor course (childbirth pain) [61,64,67] | + | |
| Mode of conception ART (conflicting results) [61,63] | +/− | |
| Breastfeeding [37] | + | |
| Mode of delivery [21,61,67] | + | |
| History of previous CS [61] | + | |
| Epidural analgesia [19,37,64] | − | |
| Birth weight (lower) [63] | + | |
| Previous voluntary interruption of pregnancy [61] | + | |
| Alpha-metildopa use [69] | + | |
| Toxoplasma Gondii infection [70] | − |
Legend: +: positive association; ++: strong positive association; +/−: conflicting data/no solid evidence; −: negative association. ART: assisted reproductive technologies. CS: cesarean section.