Postpartum depression, culture and African-American women

   ... social and cultural factors impinging on the postpartum
   American woman must play a part in symptom
   formation. Role strain, family dynamics, increased
   responsibility and a culture that does not
   have a clearly defined ritual designed to provide
   support to postpartum women and their families all
   contribute to its [postpartum depression]occurrence
   (p. 31).

In a study of Taiwanese and English participants, researchers discussed the change in rituals such as "doing the month" where new mothers and other women cared for postnatal women during the first 20-40 days after the birth of there babies. These researchers report that few postpartum rituals such as these are now followed as in previous generations.

FAMILY STRUCTURE AND DYNAMICS

Strong social support, extended families, and child-centered families seem to buffer the effects of depression (Marsella et al., 1985). Current trends and the American job market seem to support relocation to distances away from traditional family support. This is one practice that tends to expose new families to loneliness and lack of support and thus causes alienation of new mothers, rather than situating them in positions of safety and control during the postpartum period. Kumar (1994) suggested the possibility that, in some cultures, the family and social organization may play an important role in shielding infants from the adverse effects of PPD.

SOCIAL STRESS

Common social stressors implicated in the increased occurrence of PPD include poverty, illiteracy, family disintegration, and racism (Marsella et al., 1985). Spousal withdrawal from the family and marital discord are examples of family disintegration. These factors have also been implicated in the increased occurrence of depression.

Boyer (1990) suggested "cultural attitudes and practices surrounding the childbearing experience can play a major role in a new mother's postpartum adaptation" (p. 360). Western society places great emphasis on having material goods for individuals and families, including newborns. Women, at or below the poverty level, who do not have the money or the time to support their basic needs experience additional stressors with an infants' birth. Consistent with western material values, many new mothers expend large amounts of energy preparing the environment for the new baby, instead of preparing status passage events for themselves. These behaviors emphasize the baby's coming, yet neglect to place any emphasis on the mother's work or need for support during this time.

SOCIAL ORGANIZATION

Perhaps the most important to this discussion of the five components related to culture and depression is social organization. Social organization includes roles, status, and acceptable behavior patterns, as well as shared values, goals and beliefs of the culture (Marsella et al., 1985). Roles and Role Theory (Hurley, 1978) compose a large body of knowledge that predict how actors will perform in a given role or under what circumstances certain types of behavior can be expected (Conway, 1978). Roles also describe positions that are held by members in society i.e. mother, father, and others (Hurley). The socialization process of each member, toward role attainment, is specified by culture, family values, and norms (Hurley). Information about socially acceptable norms is transmitted through socialization processes such as interaction, observation, communication, and role-playing. For example, within the context of socialization, mothers learn (or come to know through communication) what is expected of them in performing their role and what has been expected of mothers in the past by observing their mothers and other mothers (aunts and grandmothers). According to Role Theory, socialization occurs within families, peers, and social institutions (Hurley). Thus, mothers socialize their daughters and information is passed from generation to generation.