Predictors of postpartum depression and its association with sleep quality among mothers in Qassim, Saudi Arabia: A descriptive cross-sectional study

Objective This cross-sectional study aims to examine the prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD) and sleep problems, their relationship, and the characteristics associated with depression/insomnia in Qassim, Saudi Arabia. Methods An online survey was administered to a convenience sample of 395 mothers who had given birth within the preceding year. The survey comprised demographic characteristics, pregnancy and childbirth characteristics, depression (via the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale; EPDS), and sleep quality (via the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; PSQI). Results Nearly two-thirds of respondents (62.3%) had PPD, while 92.2% experienced poor sleep quality. Both scales demonstrated a statistically significant positive correlation. Participants with previous PPD, peripartum depression, a personal or family history of other depression, those bottle-feeding their infants, or who had a change in sleep pattern scored significantly higher on the EPDS and had poorer PSQI scores. Respondents with a history of mental illness, pregnancy or delivery complications, those who lacked support, or gave birth to unhealthy newborns also had significantly higher EPDS scores. Conclusions PPD and poor sleep quality were highly prevalent among mothers living in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. Not surprisingly, PPD was strongly correlated with poor sleep quality. Postpartum counseling for mothers during the first year after delivery is necessary to decrease the risk of developing depressive symptoms and poor sleep quality. Screening for sleep-related difficulties and depression in prenatal and postnatal programs may help prevent the development of depressive disorder among postpartum women in this region of Saudi Arabia (or other areas of the Middle East).

• Publication year

  2023

• Venue

  International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine

• Publication date

  2023-09-28

• Fields of study

  Medicine

• Identifiers
  DOI 10.1177/00912174231202932PMID 37767714
• External record

  Open on Semantic Scholar

• Source metadata

  Semantic Scholar, PubMed

• No claims are published for this paper.

• No concepts are published for this paper.

• The association of unplanned pregnancy with perinatal depression: a longitudinal cohort study

  2022cited by this paper
• Prevalence of Postpartum Depression among Women in Childbearing Age Attending Primary Health Care Centres, Qassim Region.

  2022cited by this paper
• Does breastfeeding influence sleep? A longitudinal study across the first two postpartum years

  2022cited by this paper
• The Prevalence of Postpartum Depression and the Related Risk Factors in Primary Health Care, Al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia

  2022cited by this paper
• Post-traumatic stress disorder following childbirth

  2021cited by this paper
• Perceived Sleep Quality and Fatigue in a Population of New Mothers: A Cross-Sectional Study Comparing Relationships with Breastfeeding and Bottle Feeding

  2021cited by this paper
• Prevalence and risk factors of postpartum depression in the Middle East: a systematic review and meta–analysis

  2021influential reference
• Prevalence of Postpartum Depression and Associated Risk Factors Among Women in Jeddah, Western Saudi Arabia

  2021influential reference
• Spontaneous pregnancy versus assisted reproductive technologies: implications on maternal mental health

  2021cited by this paper
• Postpartum depression

  2020cited by this paper
• Prevalence and predictors of postpartum depression in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A cross sectional study

  2020cited by this paper
• Prevalence and Associated Factors of Postpartum Anxiety and Depression Symptoms Among Women in Shanghai, China.

  2020influential reference
• Risk factors for postpartum depression: An evidence-based systematic review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

  2020influential reference
• A Comparison of Postpartum Depression in Mothers Conceived by Assisted Reproductive Technology and Those Naturally Conceived

  2019cited by this paper
• Consequences of maternal postpartum depression: A systematic review of maternal and infant outcomes

  2019cited by this paper
• Prevalence and related factors of postpartum depression among reproductive aged women in Ahvaz, Iran

  2019influential reference
• Postpartum depression and affecting factors in primary care

  2019cited by this paper
• Prevalence and determinants of poor sleep quality and depression among postpartum women: a community-based study in Ramechhap district, Nepal

  2019influential reference
• Therapeutic Effects of the Traditional "Doing the Month" Practices on Postpartum Depression in China.

  2018influential reference
• Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 354 diseases and injuries for 195 countries and territories, 1990–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

  2018cited by this paper
• The effect of sleep pattern changes on postpartum depressive symptoms

  2018influential reference
• Prevalence and incidence of postpartum depression among healthy mothers: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

  2018cited by this paper
• Postpartum depression risk factors: A narrative review

  2017cited by this paper
• Association between sleep quality and postpartum depression

  2016influential reference
• Trajectories of maternal sleep problems before and after childbirth: a longitudinal population-based study

  2015cited by this paper
• The relationship between sleep and postpartum mental disorders: A systematic review.

  2015cited by this paper
• Very low birth-weight as a risk factor for postpartum depression four to six weeks postbirth in mothers and fathers: Cross-sectional results from a controlled multicentre cohort study.

  2015influential reference
• Predictors of Postpartum Depression in the Eastern Province Capital of Saudi Arabia

  2014cited by this paper
• Postpartum women's sleep quality and its predictors in Taiwan.

  2014influential reference
• The effect of social support around pregnancy on postpartum depression among Canadian teen mothers and adult mothers in the maternity experiences survey

  2014cited by this paper
• Predictors of postpartum depression: prospective study of 264 women followed during pregnancy and postpartum.

  2014cited by this paper
• Is postpartum depression a homogenous disorder: time of onset, severity, symptoms and hopelessness in relation to the course of depression

  2014influential reference
• Unintended Pregnancy and Postpartum Depression Among First-Time Mothers

  2013cited by this paper
• Prevalence and risk factors for postpartum depressive symptoms in Argentina: a cross-sectional study

  2013cited by this paper
• Onset timing, thoughts of self-harm, and diagnoses in postpartum women with screen-positive depression findings.

  2013cited by this paper
• Examination of premenstrual symptoms as a risk factor for depression in postpartum women

  2013cited by this paper
• Postnatal depression and its effects on child development: a review of evidence from low- and middle-income countries.

  2012cited by this paper
• Employment, income, and education and risk of postpartum depression: the Osaka Maternal and Child Health Study.

  2011cited by this paper
• Postpartum depression effects on early interactions, parenting, and safety practices: a review.

  2010cited by this paper
• Symptoms of maternal depression immediately after delivery predict unsuccessful breast feeding

  2010cited by this paper
• Sleep problems in young infants and maternal mental and physical health

  2007cited by this paper
• Clinical practice. Postpartum depression.

  2002cited by this paper
• The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: a new instrument for psychiatric practice and research.

  1989cited by this paper
• Detection of Postnatal Depression

  1987cited by this paper

• Investigating the Link Between Poor Sleep Patterns and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Women With a History of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Retrospective Population-Based Study

  2025influential citation
• The Prevalence and Risk Factors of Postpartum Depression Among Saudi Arabian Women—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

  2025cites this paper
• Postpartum Depression in Saudi Arabia: A Narrative Review of Prevalence, Knowledge, Risk Factors, and Quality-of-Life Impact

  2025cites this paper