Social capital buffers divergent prenatal depression trajectories: A latent class growth analysis in Chinese women.

BACKGROUND

The manifestation of prenatal depression symptoms demonstrates heterogeneous trajectories that may be mediated by maternal social capital reserves.

OBJECTIVES

This longitudinal study aimed to (1) characterize distinct developmental trajectories of prenatal depressive symptoms and (2) examine the predictive capacity of early pregnancy social capital in determining trajectory subgroup membership.

METHODS

Longitudinal data were collected from 455 pregnant women in Chengdu assessed at three gestational phases: first trimester (<14 weeks), second trimester (14-28 weeks), and third trimester (>28 weeks). Depressive symptoms were quantified using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), while social capital was operationalized through four validated dimensions: familial cohesion, social trust, community engagement, and support network accessibility. Latent Class Growth Analysis (LCGA) was employed to identify symptom trajectory patterns, with multinomial logistic regression conducted to evaluate predictive relationships.

RESULTS

Three distinct trajectory groups were identified: persistent-severe (18.9 %), moderate-remitting (58.7 %), and mild-remitting (22.4 %). Elevated social capital reserves during early gestation were significantly associated with increased likelihood of mild-remitting trajectory membership (aOR = 1.82, 95%CI 1.24-2.67). Educational attainment (β = 0.43, p < 0.01) and medical history (β = 1.17, p < 0.001) emerged as significant covariates.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings underscore the critical importance of first-trimester social capital assessment as a modifiable protective factor in prenatal mental health interventions. Clinical protocols should prioritize early gestational screening combined with social capital evaluation to facilitate timely preventive strategies.