Perception of Social Support and its Relationship With the Biological Rhythm of Women in the Postpartum Period

Abstract

It is known that social support is one of the main protective factors in the postpartum period. In addition, studies report the association between biological rhythm disruption and its consequences on health, especially mental, but little is known about the possible causes of this disruption. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the association between the perception of social support and the biological rhythm in women at three months postpartum in the city of Pelotas, Brazil. This is a cross-sectional study nested within a population-based cohort study, using data from an assessment performed 90 to 120 days postpartum. The mother's perception of social support was assessed by the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Scale (MOS-SSS), while biological rhythm was measured by the Biological Rhythms Interview of Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (BRIAN). Sample composition was based on data from 755 women. After adjusting by linear regression for the potential confounders of schooling and economic class, all domains of social support (material support, affective support, emotional support, informational support and positive social interaction) remained negatively associated with biological rhythm (p < .001). Thus, regression analysis shows for each increment of one point in the domains of social support, there was a decrease between 0,160 and 0,189 points in the maternal biological rhythm. All domains of social support were associated with disruption of the biological rhythm, which reinforces the need for adequate support, especially in a period of many demands, for good maternal health.

Keywords

• social support
• perceived social support
• biological rhythm
• circadian rhythm postpartum