This study compares 11 postpartum depressed women with 25 postpartum non-depressed women in Hong Kong on depression and social support measures. Results indicate that the depressed women score consistently higher on Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and consistently lower on the Medical Outcome Study (MOS) Social Support Survey than do the non-depressed women. Social support is negatively correlated with postpartum depression. The depressed and non-depressed groups differ significantly on all four kinds of social support, including tangible support (TS), affectionate support (AF), positive social interaction support (PSI), emotional or informational support (EIS) and in the number of confidants. The practical implications of these findings are discussed in relation to an inhibitory effect of social support on postpartum depression identified in this study.

Key words: postpartum depression, social support