Experiences and perceptions of perinatal depression among new immigrant Chinese parents: a qualitative study

Abstract

Background Immigrant status, acculturation level, race and ethnicity have been found to contribute to the utilization of mental health services in the perinatal period. This study explored perinatal experiences and perceptions among Chinese immigrant mothers and their spouses, as well as the possible barriers and facilitators that affect their health care utilization. Methods We recruited 13 women ages 18–35 years born in mainland China, living in Rochester, New York, and residing less than 5 years in the United States. Participants primary language was Mandarin Chinese and all had given birth to at least one live infant within the past 7 years. Participants’ age was at least 18 years old at the time of delivery. Five spouses also participated. We divided women in two focus groups and held one focus group for men, with data collection including demographic questionnaires and semi-structured focus group questions conducted in December 2014. Data were analyzed following thematic analysis. Results Four themes emerged: experiences of perinatal depression; perceptions of perinatal depression; general preventive and coping strategies; and attitudes toward the supportive use social media applications (apps) and text messaging during the perinatal period. Participants had limited knowledge of perinatal depression and had difficulty distinguishing between normal perinatal mood fluctuations and more severe symptoms of depression. They discussed immigrant-related stress, conflicts with parents/in-laws while “doing the month”, the perceived gap between the ideal of “perfect moms” and reality, and challenges with parenting as the causes of perinatal depression. Women approved of screening for the condition but were conservative about follow-up interventions. As for the management of perinatal depression, participants preferred to deal with the problem within the family before seeking external help, due to potential stigma as well as Chinese traditional culture. They were receptive to obtaining pertinent health information from anonymous social media apps, preferring these to personal text messages. Conclusion The recent immigrant Chinese parents to the United States in the study had limited knowledge of perinatal depression and did not make full use of mental health services for support due to language and cultural barriers. Screening for perinatal depression is only the first step. Future research should explore what interventions may serve as an acceptable approach to overcoming these gaps.

Experiences of women with psychological suffering in the puerperium: interpretations and meanings

“…During the gestational period, there were enthusiastic dreams about motherhood, but upon awakening in the puerperium, these dreams were transformed into attempts to cope with reality. This reality is characterised by disruptions in the idealisations, as well as having newborns in their arms who require extensive care, resulting in psychological suffering [39].…”

Maternal Mental Health in Refugees and Migrants: a Comprehensive Systematic Review

“…Migrants and refugee mothers tend to cope with their mental health issues and psycho-emotional distress on their own, often devaluing it, seeking to focus on baby/childcare, work, domestic tasks, looking for comfort in spirituality and religion, as well as in fundamental emotional support from spouses (Ahmed et al, 2017;Baiden et al, 2021;Li et al, 2021;Saherwala et al, 2021). Key and successful coping strategies were mainly associated with maintaining culture and intrapersonal characteristics: adaptability, entrepreneurship, and language learning as first steps for the inclusion process (Gagnon et al, 2013).…”

Medical Mistrust in Perinatal Mental Health

“…The term often used in this context is obstetric racism 70 . Decreased English language proficiency is also associated with reduced access to psychiatric care and treatment engagement 66,71 …”