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Table1 Summary characteristics of studies investigating the association between social support and mental health problems (depression, anxiety and self-harm) during pregnancy (N = 66, from 2000–2019)

From: The relationship between social support and mental health problems during pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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)