Bridging Support and Care: Examining the Relationships Among Depressive Symptoms, Perceived Partner Support and Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Help in Filipino Postpartum Women

Postpartum women experience significant emotional and psychological challenges that may lead to depressive symptoms. Adequate emotional support and access to professional care are essential for their well-being. Acknowledging that partner support and help-seeking attitudes play a role in how women cope with postpartum distress, this study employed a correlational, cross-sectional design to examine the relationships among depressive symptoms, perceived partner support, and attitudes toward seeking professional help. Participants were Filipino women aged 20-45 years old, within six months postpartum, cohabiting with their partner for at least one year, regardless of marital and employment status. 52.5% participated through onsite data collection in various health centers and hospitals, while 47.5% participated online. Standardized tools were utilized, including the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EDPS), Postpartum Partner Support Scale (PPSS), and Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help-Short Form (ATSPPHS-SF). Findings revealed high levels of depressive symptoms, moderate perceived partner support and moderately positive attitudes toward seeking professional help. A positive correlation was found between depressive symptoms and perceived partner support. These findings highlight public health concerns due to the severity of depressive symptoms and the presence of self-harm ideation. Corresponding recommendations are presented within the study.