Seymour-Smith, MagenCruwys, TeganHaslam, S. Alexander2023-03-162023-03-161326-0200http://hdl.handle.net/1885/287109Objective: We examined the dynamic relationship between life changes (pregnancy and childbirth) and social support during the postpartum period. Methods: A large, nationally representative sample of Australian women (N=806) who completed the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey (HILDA) in the year immediately before and immediately after giving birth to a child reported on measures of perceived social support and mental health. Results: Analyses indicated a decrease in both social support and mental health after having a baby. Social support during the postpartum period – controlling for social support and mental health prior to the birth of a baby – predicted better mental health in women. However, for women who experienced a decline in social support, prenatal social support was a risk factor for a decline in mental wellbeing rather than a protective factor. Conclusions: Women who have ‘more to lose’ are at increased risk of mental ill-health if they cannot maintain existing sources of social support. Implications for public health: Loss of social support during pregnancy and the postpartum period should be considered as a significant risk factor for postpartum depression in its own right and one that warrants screening and intervention.application/pdfen-AU© 2021 The Author(s)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/postpartum depressionmaternal healthsocial support202110.1111/1753-6405.130992022-01-09Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License