Background
Methods
Information source, search strategy and study selection process
Eligibility criteria
Definition of outcome variables
Definition of the exposure variable
Quality appraisal and methods of data extraction
Data synthesis method
Publication bias, heterogeneity, and subgroup analysis
Result
Selection of studies
Study characteristics
S. no. | Author, country, publication year | Type of support | Source of support | Sample size | Setting | Study design | Measurement | Measure of association | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mental health problems | Social support | ||||||||
1 | Abujilban SK., et al., Jordan, 2013 [58] | General support | Family/non-family | 218 | Facility | Cross-sectional | Depression: EPDS | DUSOCS (12 item) | r = − 0.022, P > 0.05 |
2 | Adewuya AO., et al., Nigeria, 2007 [59] | Emotional/instrumental support | Partner | 181 | Facility | Cross-sectional | Depression: EPDS | PSSS | AOR: 6.08 (1.42, 26.04) |
3 | Agostini F., et al., Italy, 2015 [60] | General support | Partner/family/friend | 404 | Facility | Longitudinal | Depression: EPDS | MSPSS | AOR: 1.06 (1.03, 1.08) |
4 | Akiki S., et al., UK, 2016 [61] | General support | Family | 1992 | Facility | Longitudinal | Anxiety: STAI | PSS | β = − 0.044, P = 0.029 |
Partner | β = − 0.033, P = 0.0051 | ||||||||
5 | Anindyajati G., et al., Indonesia, 2017 [62] | General support | Partner/family | 107 | Community | Cross-sectional | Depression: LPGD | KD-24 item | AOR 0.21(0.05, 0.84) |
6 | Bayrampour H., et al., Canada, 2015 [63] | General support | Family/partner | 3021 | Facility | Longitudinal | Depression: EPDS | MOS-SSS (19 item) | AOR 3.09 (1.65, 5.78) |
Anxiety: STAI | AOR 3.37 (2.14, 5.33) | ||||||||
7 | Belay YB., et al., Ethiopia, 2018 [64] | General support | Partner | 363 | Facility | Cross-sectional | Depression: BDI | MSSS | AOR 4.76 (1.51, 14.28) |
8 | Bernard O., et al., Jamaica, 2018 [65] | Emotional support | Partner | 3571 | Facility | Longitudinal | Depression: EPDS | MSPSS | AOR 3.14 (1.69, 5.84) |
9 | Biratu A., et al., Ethiopia, 2015 [66] | General support | Partner | 422 | Facility | Cross-sectional | Depression: EPDS | PSS | AOR 1.89 (1.06, 3.35) |
10 | Bisetegn TA., et al., Ethiopia, 2016 [67] | General support | Family/Partner | 527 | Community | Cross-sectional | Depression: EPDS | OSSS-3 | AOR 1.57 (0.79,3.11) |
11 | Cankorur vs., et al., Turkey, 2015 [68] | Emotional/practical support | Family/partner | 730 | Facility | Longitudinal | Depression: EPDS | CPQ | AOR 1.07, (1.01, 1.15) |
12 | Chee C., et al., Singapore, 2005 [69] | General support | Family/partner | 724 | Facility | Longitudinal | Depression: EPDS | MOS-SSS (19 item) | AOR 2.53 (1.07–6.02) |
13 | Cheng E., et al., USA, 2016 [70] | General support | Friend/partner/relatives | 1764 | Facility | Longitudinal | Depression: EPDS | PSS | AOR: 3.1 (1.7, 5.7) (Project viva) |
877 | Anxiety: STAI | AOR: 1.9 (1.1, 3.3) (Project access) | |||||||
14 | Clements AD., et al., USA, 2016 [71] | General support | Family/partner | 106 | Facility | Longitudinal | Depression: CESD | PPP | β = − 0.44, P < 0.001 (1st trimester) |
β = − 0.33, P < 0.001 (2nd trimester) | |||||||||
15 | Dibaba Y., et al., Ethiopia, 2013 [72] | General support | Family/partner | 627 | Community | Cross-sectional | Depression: EPDS | MSSS | AOR 4.34 (2.12, 9.1) |
16 | Dong X., et al., China, 2013 [73] | General support | Partner | 520 | Facility | Cross-sectional | Depression: EPDS | OSSS-3 | AOR: 1.75 (0.16–19.28), |
Parents | AOR: 0.56 (0.06–5.13), | ||||||||
Parents-in-law | AOR: 0.74 (0.24–2.23) | ||||||||
17 | Dudas R., et al., Hungary, 2012 [74] | General support | Partner | 1719 | Community | Cross-sectional | Depression: LQ | MSPSS | AOR: 1.79(1.32–1.89) |
18 | Duko B., et al., Ethiopia, 2019 [75] | General support | Partner/parents/parents-in-law | 317 | Facility | Cross-sectional | Depression: EPDS | OSSS-3 | AOR: 2.14 (1.49, 3.11) |
19 | Schetter DC., et al., Canada, 2016 [76] | General support | Family/partner | 5271 | Facility | Longitudinal | Anxiety: BIPS | MOS-SSS (19 item) | β = 0.08 (0.01, 0.15), P > 0.05 |
20 | Fall A., et al., Canada, 2013 [57] | General support | Family | 5337 | Facility | Longitudinal | Depression: CES-D | ASSI | AOR: 4.47 (3.55–5.63) |
21 | Gao L., et al., China, 2019 [77] | Emotional/Instrumental support | Partner | 278 | Facility | Cross-sectional | Anxiety: SAS | PSSS | AOR: 2.86 (1.70, 4.83), |
Depression: EPDS | AOR: 2.56 (1.52, 4.30) | ||||||||
22 | Golbasi Z., et al., Turkey, 2010 [78] | Emotional/Instrumental support | Family/partner/friend | 258 | Facility | Cross-sectional | Depression: EPDS | MSPSS | r = − 0.43; P < 0.001 |
23 | Gourounti K., et al., Greece, 2013 [79] | General support | Family/friends/partner | 165 | Facility | Cross-sectional | Anxiety: STAI | SSQ-6 | β = 0.131 (0.19, 2.37) |
24 | Hain S., et al., Germany, 2016 [80] | Emotional/instrumental support | Family/partner/non-family | 297 | Facility | Longitudinal | Depression: EPDS | F-SozU K-14 | r = − 0.45, p < 0.01 |
25 | Herbell K., et al., USA, 2019 [81] | General support | Family/partner | 82 | Facility | Cross-sectional | Depression: CESD | MOS-SSS (19 item) | β = − 0.751, P < 0.001 |
26 | Heyningen T., et al., South Africa, 2017 [82] | Emotional/instrumental support | Friends | 376 | Facility | Cross-sectional | Anxiety: MINI | MSPSS | AOR: 1.05 (1.01, 1.09) |
27 | Jeong H., et al., South Africa, 2013 [83] | Emotional support | Mother | 1262 | Facility | Cross-sectional | Depression: EPDS | MSPSS | AOR: 1.5 (1.31–1.71) |
28 | Lau Y., et al., China, 2011 [84] | Emotional/tangible support | Family | 1609 | Facility | Cross-sectional | Depression: EPDS | ISEL | AOR: 1.9 (1.582, 2.520) |
29 | Lee AM., et al., Hong Kong, 2007 [85] | Emotional/instrumental support | Partner | 357 | Facility | Longitudinal | Anxiety: HADS | PSSS | AOR: 1.72 (1.05, 2.85) |
Depression: HADS | AOR: 1.69 (1.01, 2.85) | ||||||||
30 | Li Y., et al., China, 2017 [86] | Emotional/instrumental support | Partner | 240 | Facility | Longitudinal | Depression: EPDS | PSSS | AOR 0.99 (0.94, 1.05) |
31 | Nath A.,et al., India, 2019 [87] | Emotional/instrumental support | Family/partner | 380 | Facility | Cross-sectional | Anxiety: PRT | MSPSS | AOR: 1.76 (1.04, 2.98) |
32 | Onah MN., et al., South Africa, 2016 [88] | Emotional/instrumental support | Family/friends/partner | 376 | Facility | Cross-sectional | Self-Harm: SIB | MSPSS | AOR: 1.07 (1.01, 1.15) |
33 | Pajulo M., et al., Finland, 2001 [89] | General support | Partner/parents/mother in-law/friend | 391 | Facility | Cross-sectional | Depression: EPDS | SSQ-12 | AOR: 4.2 (0.9, 20.2) |
34 | Rashid A., et al., Malaysia, 2017 [90] | General support | Partner/parents/parents-in-law | 3000 | Facility | Cross-sectional | Depression: EPDS | OSSS-3 | AOR: 2.16 (1.77, 2.64) |
35 | Rubertsson C.et al., Sweden, 2003 [91] | General support | Partner/parents/parents-in-law | 608 | Facility | Longitudinal | Depression: EPDS | OSSS-3 | AOR: 6.9 (3.4, 13.9) |
36 | Shafaie FS., et al., Iran, 2017 [92] | General support | Family/Partner | 372 | Facility | Cross-sectional | Anxiety: DASS | PRQ- 85 | r = − 0.456, p < .001 |
Depression: DASS | r = − 0.642, p < .001 | ||||||||
37 | Sheeba B., et al., India, 2019 [93] | Emotional/instrumental support | Family/friends/partner | 280 | Facility | Longitudinal | Depression: EPDS | MSPSS | AOR: 1.785 (0.915, 3.48) |
38 | Sidebottom AC., et al., USA, 2017[94] | General support | Family/friend | 2341 | Facility | Longitudinal | Depression: PHQ-9 | MSSI | AOR: 1.85 (1.31, 2.60) |
39 | Spoozak L., et al., USA, 2008 [95] | Emotional/instrumental support | Mother/partner | 783 | Facility | Cross-sectional | Depression: CIDI | MKSSI | AOR: 2.39 (1.63, 3.52) |
40 | Stewart RC., et al., Malawi, 2014 [96] | Emotional/instrumental support | Family/partner/friend | 503 | Facility | Cross-sectional | Depression: DSM IV | MSPSS | AOR 1.11 (1.04, 1.17) |
41 | Xian T., et al., China, 2019 [97] | General support | Family/partner | 1220 | Facility | Longitudinal | Anxiety: HAMA | SSRS-10 | AOR: 5.09 (2.41, 10.77) |
Depression: SDS | AOR 3.18 (1.46, 6.96) | ||||||||
42 | Verreault N., et al., Canada, 2014 [98] | General support | Family/partner/friends | 364 | Facility | Cross-sectional | Depression: EPDS | MOS-SSS (19 item) | β: − 0.32, P < 0.001 |
43 | Woldetensay YK.,et al., Ethiopia, 2018 [99] | General support | Family/friends/partner | 4680 | Community | Longitudinal | Depression: PHQ-9 | MSSS | AOR: 1.63 (1.31–2.02) |
44 | Yanikkerem E., et al., Turkey, 2013 [100] | Emotional/instrumental support | Partner | 651 | Facility | Cross-sectional | Depression: BDI | PSSS | β = 2.42, (0.707, 4.135) |
45 | Zeng Y., et al., China, 2015 [101] | Emotional/instrumental support | Family/partner/friend | 292 | Facility | Cross-sectional | Depression: SDS | SSRS-10 | AOR 1.08 (1.03, 1.13) |
46 | Sahile MA., et al., Ethiopia, 2017 [102] | General support | Partner/parents/parents-in-law | 231 | Facility | Cross-sectional | Depression: BDI | OSSS-3 | AOR: 2.63 (0.34, 20 |
47 | Records C., et al., USA, 2007 [103] | Emotional/instrumental support | Family/friends/partner | 139 | Facility | Cross-sectional | Depression: CESD | MSPSS | β = 1.64, P < 0.001 |
48 | Marchesi C., et al., Italy, 2014 [104] | General support | Family/friends/partner | 277 | Facility | Longitudinal | Anxiety: HADS | ASSI | AOR: 4.2 (1.1, 15.5) |
49 | Waqas A., et al., Pakistan, 2015 [105] | General support | Family/friend/ partner/others | 500 | Facility | Cross-sectional | Anxiety-HADS | SPS | r = − 0.433, P < 0.001 |
Depression-HADS | r = − 0.453, P < 0.001 | ||||||||
50 | Westdahl C., et al., USA, 2007 [106] | General support | Family/parent | 1047 | Facility | Longitudinal | Depression: CESD | SSRS-10 | AOR: 2.29 (1.21, 4.33) |
51 | Nasreen HE., et al., Bangladesh, 2011 [107] | General support | Partner/parents/parents-in-law | 720 | Community | Longitudinal | Depression: EPDS | OSSS-3 | AOR: 2.23 (2.12, 3.62) |
Anxiety: STAI | β: -1.1447, P < 0.05 | ||||||||
52 | Leigh B., et al., Australia, 2008 [39] | General support | Family/friend/partner/others | 367 | Facility | Longitudinal | Depression: BDI | SPS | β = − 0.18, P < 0.001 |
53 | Martini J., et al., Germany, 2015 [108] | General support | Family/friends/partner | 306 | Community | Longitudinal | Anxiety: CIDI-V | SSQ-12 | AOR: 2.27 (1.42, 3.70) |
Depression: CIDI V | AOR: 2.43, (1.19, 5) | ||||||||
54 | Rubertsson C. et al., Sweden, 2003 [91] | General support | Partner/parent/parents-in-law | 3011 | Facility | Longitudinal | Depression: EPDS | OSSS-3 | AOR: 4.4 (2.7, 7.4) |
55 | Huang M., et al., Taiwan, 2019 [109] | General support | Family/friends/partner | 158 | Facility | Longitudinal | Anxiety: STAI | MSSS | β = − 0.79(− 1.16, − 0.42) |
Depression: EPDS | β = − 0.44 (− 0.63, − 0.24) | ||||||||
56 | Jesse ED., et l, USA, 2005 [110] | General support | Partner/others | 130 | Facility | Cross-sectional | Depression: BDI | PPP | AOR:1(0.98,1.02),P > 0.05 |
57 | Blaney NT., et al., USA, 2004 [111] | General support | Friend/partner/relatives | 325 | Facility | Cross-sectional | Depression: CESD | PSS | r = − 0.25, P < 0.001 |
58 | Glazier RH., et al., Canada, 2004 [112] | Emotional/instrumental support | Family/friends/partner | 2052 | Facility | Longitudinal | Depression: CESD, | MSPSS | r = − 7.38, P < 0.01 |
Longitudinal | Anxiety: STAI | r = − 7.34, P < 0.01 | |||||||
59 | Senturk V., et al., 2011 [113] | General support | Partner | 772 | Facility | Cross-sectional | Depression: EPDS | CPQ | β = − 2.6 (− 3.6, − 1.7) |
Emotional support | Mother in-low | β = − 2.6,95%CI (-4.6,-1.9) | |||||||
Practical support | β = -0.8,95%CI (-1.4,-0.3) | ||||||||
60 | Gausia k., et al., Bangladesh, 2009 [18] | General support | Mother in-low | 361 | Community | Cross-sectional | Depression: EPDS | PPP | AOR:2.41(1.31, 4.45) |
Partner | AOR: 8.26 (1.66, 41) | ||||||||
61 | Shidhaye P., et al., India, 2017 [114] | General support | Friend/partner/relatives | 302 | Facility | Cross-sectional | Depression: EPDS | PSS | AOR: 3.33 (1.42, 5) |
62 | Hartley M., et al., South Africa, 2011 [115] | Emotional/practical support | Family/partner | 1062 | Facility | Longitudinal | Depression: EPDS | CPQ | AOR: 1.13 (1.03, 1.25) |
63 | Rwakarema M et al., Tanzania, 2017 [116] | General support | Family/friends/partner | 397 | Facility | Cross-sectional | Depression: EPDS | MSSS | AOR: 1.41 (0.60, 3.28) |
64 | Heyningen T et al., South Africa, 2016 [117] | Emotional/instrumental support | Family/friends/partner | 376 | Facility | Cross-sectional | Depression: EPDS | MSPSS | AOR: 1.14 (1.06, 1.22) |
65 | e Couto T., et al., Brazil, 2016 [43] | General support | Partner/parents/parents-in-law | 255 | Facility | Cross-sectional | Self-harm: MINI | OSSS-3 | AOR: 1.75 (0.62, 5), |
66 | Pinheiro RT., et al., Brazil, 2012 [118] | Emotional/instrumental support | Family/friends/partner | 871 | Facility | Cross-sectional | Self-harm: MINI | MOS-SSS (7 item) | AOR: 3.03 (1.78, 5.26) |
67 | Supraja, TA., et al., 2016 India [119] | General support | Spouse, other family members, and friends | 462 | Facility | Cross-sectional | Self-harm: SBQ-R | MSSS-8 item | AOR: 1.17 (1.02, 2.35) |
S. no. | Type of Social support tool used | Concepts measured | Cronbach Alpha |
---|---|---|---|
1 | The Duke Social Support and Stress Scale (DUSOCS) (12 items) [119] | Family and non-family relationships in terms of the amount of social support they provide and number of supportive people | 0.74 |
2 | Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) (12 items) [120] | The subjective adequacy of emotional and instrumental social support from three different sources (family, friends, and partner) | 0.83 |
3 | Kuesioner Dukungan Sosial (KDS) (24 item) [121] | Support from husband, extended families from both sides, environmental support, mother's preparedness, and traditional rituals | 0.788 |
4 | Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS) (7 items) [35] | Perceived emotional and instrumental support from one’s social network | 0.88 |
5 | Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS) (19 items) [35] | Perceived emotional/informational support, tangible support, affectionate support, and positive social interaction | 0.97 |
6 | Oslo Social Support Scale(OSSS-3 item) [122] | Support received from husband, parents, and parents-in-law | 0.88 |
7 | Close Person Questionnaire (CPQ) [123] | Emotional support, practical support, and negative aspects of the relationship | 0.85 |
8 | Partner social support Scale (PSSS) [124] | Support received from a partner (emotional, instrumental and being dependent on partner) | 0.89 |
9 | Prenatal Psychosocial Profile (PPP) [125] | Social support from partner and others | 0.71 |
10 | Arizona Social Support Interview (ASSI) [126] | Availability of support from social network/family: instrumental, emotional, informative, normative, and companionship | 0.7 |
11 | Maternal Social Support Index (MSSI) (18 items) [127] | Support received from family, friend, and her feeling about the support. Also, the support received on routine home duties (watching children, doing other activities) | 0.81 |
12 | Modified Kendler Social support interview (MKSSI) (27 items) [128] | Emotional and instrumental support | 0.68 |
13 | Social Support rating scale (SSRS) (10 items) [129] | Objective support, subjective support, and support seeking behavior | 0.76 |
14 | Social provision Scale (SPS) (24 items) [130] | Intimacy, social integration, a reassurance of worth, and support from friends, family members, coworkers, community members, and so on | 0.81 |
15 | Social support Questionnaire (12 items) [131] | Emotional support, instrumental support, social integration and measure perceptions of social support and satisfaction with that social support | 0.81 |
16 | Social support Questionnaire-6 (SSQ-6 item) [132] | Availability of social support/number of supporters (SSQ-Network) and satisfaction with social support (SSQ-Satisfaction) | 0.83 |
17 | F-SozU K-14 (Fragebogen zur Sozialen Unterst€utzung; Social Support Questionnaire) (14 items) [133] | The perceived or anticipated emotional and instrumental support from one’s social environment | 0.94 |
18 | Interpersonal support Evaluation list (ISEL) (40 items) [134] | Perceived availability of aspects of social support like emotional, belonging, tangible, and self-esteem | 0.74 |
19 | Personal resource questionnaire (PRQ-85) (85 items) [135] | Assessment of the number of resources a person can count across life situations and a person's satisfaction with these resources | 0.84 |
20 | Perceived Social Support (PSS) (25 items) [136] | Social support from partner, friend, relatives, and co-worker | 0.75 |
21 | Social relationship Scale (SRS) [137] | Perceived availability of emotional and material support | 0.87 |
22 | Maternal social Support Scale (MSSS) (6 items) [138] | Level of perceived support from family, friends, and husband | 0.74 |
Quality appraisal
Narrative analysis
Association between social support and antenatal depression
Association between social support and antenatal anxiety
Association between social support and self-harm during pregnancy
Meta-analysis of the association between low social support and antenatal depression
Subgroup analysis of the association between low social support and antenatal depression
Variable | No. of studies | Pooled AOR (95% CI) | Heterogeneity within the study (I2 and Q) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Q value | I2, P-value | |||
Study setting | ||||
Facility | 36 | 1.63 (1.49, 1.77) | 502.3 | 93.0%, p < 0.001 |
Community | 9 | 2.21 (1.25, 3.93) | 792.0 | 99.0%, p < 0.001 |
Income of country | ||||
High-income | 16 | 1.98 (1.72, 2.27) | 367 | 95.9%, p < 0.001 |
Middle-income | 14 | 1.33 (1.19, 1.50) | 115.7 | 88.8%, p < 0.001 |
Low-income | 15 | 2.26 (1.36, 3.76) | 1431.5 | 99.0%, p < 0.001 |
Study design | ||||
Cross-sectional study | 26 | 1.84 (1.4, 2.41) | 3534.2 | 99.3%, p < 0.001 |
Longitudinal study | 19 | 2.1 (1.78, 2.48) | 339.6 | 94.7%, p < 0.001 |
Median sample sizea | ||||
< 520 | 30 | 1.99 (1.63, 2.41) | 3833.8 | 99.2%, p < 0.001 |
> = 520 | 15 | 2.02 (1.59, 2.55) | 126.5 | 88.9%, p < 0.001 |
Publication year | ||||
2000–2005 | 3 | 4.37 (2.20, 8.71) | 3.13 | 36.0%, p = 0.209 |
2006–2010 | 7 | 2.20 (1.31, 3.71) | 50.3 | 88.1%, p < 0.001 |
2011–2015 | 15 | 1.67 (1.43, 1.95) | 295.8 | 95.3%, p < 0.001 |
2016–2019 | 20 | 2.06 (1.43, 2.97) | 2598.4 | 99.3%, p < 0.001 |
Depression assessment tool | ||||
Screening | 41 | 2.07 (1.74, 2.46) | 3940.9 | 99.0%, p < 0.001 |
Diagnostic | 4 | 1.29 (1.09, 1.52) | 19.25 | 84.4%, p < 0.001 |
Sensitivity analysis
Meta-analysis of the association between low social support and antenatal anxiety
Subgroup analysis of the association between low social support and antenatal anxiety
Variable | No. of studies | Pooled AOR (95% CI) | Heterogeneity within the study (I2 and Q) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Q value | I2, P-value | |||
Income of country | ||||
High-income | 5 | 2.34 (1.76, 3.11) | 5.23 | 23.6%, p = 0.264 |
Low and middle-income | 4 | 2.15 (1.06, 4.38) | 34.55 | 91.3%, p < 0.001 |
Study design | ||||
Cross-sectional study | 3 | 2.27 (1.46, 3.53) | 17.68 | 88.7%, p < 0.001 |
Longitudinal study | 6 | 2.59 (1.87, 3.57) | 8.97 | 44.2%, P = 0.11 |
Median sample sizea | ||||
< 376 | 4 | 2.28 (1.72, 3.02) | 2.77 | 0%, P = 0.429 |
> = 376 | 5 | 2.17 (1.16, 4.07) | 49.53 | 91.9%, p < 0.001 |
Publication year | ||||
2015+ | 7 | 2.27 (1.36, 3.78) | 72.45 | 91.7%, P < 0.001 |
Before 2015 | 2 | 2.16 (1.007, 4.63) | 1.53 | 34.7%, P = 0.216 |