Postpartum maternal mental health: cross-country findings from Cyprus and Slovenia
Abstract
Background: The postpartum period is a critical phase for maternal psychological adjustment, yet cross-country evidence remains limited. This study examines the prevalence, predictors and lived experiences of maternal mental health in Cyprus and Slovenia within the Mind the Mum project.
Methods: A cross-country explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was used. Quantitative data were collected from 1,019 postpartum women (Cyprus: n = 474; Slovenia: n = 545) using validated instruments (EPDS, GAD-7, WHO-5, BSS-R, BSES-SF, Brief COPE). Analyses included descriptive statistics, correlations and regression models. Qualitative data from focus groups (Cyprus: n = 42; Slovenia: n = 19) were analysed thematically.
Results: Maternal mental health challenges were highly prevalent across both countries. Approximately one-third of women met criteria for probable postpartum depression (CY: 36.8%; Sl: 33.4%), while over half reported elevated depressive symptoms. Anxiety was also widespread, with moderate-to-severe levels observed in 31.2% of Cypriot and 18.3% of Slovenian participants. Furthermore, low well-being was significantly higher in Cyprus (42.3%) compared to Slovenia (20.2%).Across both contexts, anxiety was the strongest predictor of depressive symptoms (β≈.51–.54, p<.001). Well-being and breastfeeding self-efficacy were protective, while birth-related stress and maladaptive coping were associated with poorer outcomes. Adaptive coping and partner/family support were consistently protective. Qualitative findings highlighted shared experiences of emotional vulnerability, identity transition, breastfeeding challenges, gaps in communication and decision-making during childbirth.
Conclusions: Postpartum mental health is shaped by interconnected psychological, behavioural and systemic factors. The high prevalence of distress underscores the need for integrated, woman-centred perinatal care that strengthens psychosocial support, improves communication and promotes maternal autonomy.
Key messages: • Postpartum mental health challenges affect over one-third of mothers, highlighting a substantial and under-recognised public health burden across European settings.
• Strengthening psychosocial support, communication and maternal autonomy is essential to improve perinatal care and promote maternal well-being.
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BibTeX
@article{hadjigeorgiou2026postpartum,
title = {{Postpartum maternal mental health: cross-country findings from Cyprus and Slovenia}},
author = {E Hadjigeorgiou and I Papaioannou and I Koliandri and A Mavrommati and M Karanikola and N Middleton and M Chrzan-Dętkoś},
journal = {The European Journal of Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.223},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.223},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Postpartum maternal mental health: cross-country findings from Cyprus and Slovenia
AU - E Hadjigeorgiou
AU - I Papaioannou
AU - I Koliandri
AU - A Mavrommati
AU - M Karanikola
AU - N Middleton
AU - M Chrzan-Dętkoś
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - The European Journal of Public Health
DO - 10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.223
UR - https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.223
AB - Background: The postpartum period is a critical phase for maternal psychological adjustment, yet cross-country evidence remains limited. This study examines the prevalence, predictors and lived experiences of maternal mental health in Cyprus and Slovenia within the Mind the Mum project. Methods: A cross-country explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was used. Quantitative data were collected from 1,019 postpartum women (Cyprus: n = 474; Slovenia: n = 545) using validated instruments (EPDS, GAD-7, WHO-5, BSS-R, BSES-SF, Brief COPE). Analyses included descriptive statistics, correlations and regression models. Qualitative data from focus groups (Cyprus: n = 42; Slovenia: n = 19) were analysed thematically. Results: Maternal mental health challenges were highly prevalent across both countries. Approximately one-third of women met criteria for probable postpartum depression (CY: 36.8%; Sl: 33.4%), while over half reported elevated depressive symptoms. Anxiety was also widespread, with moderate-to-severe levels observed in 31.2% of Cypriot and 18.3% of Slovenian participants. Furthermore, low well-being was significantly higher in Cyprus (42.3%) compared to Slovenia (20.2%).Across both contexts, anxiety was the strongest predictor of depressive symptoms (β≈.51–.54, p<.001). Well-being and breastfeeding self-efficacy were protective, while birth-related stress and maladaptive coping were associated with poorer outcomes. Adaptive coping and partner/family support were consistently protective. Qualitative findings highlighted shared experiences of emotional vulnerability, identity transition, breastfeeding challenges, gaps in communication and decision-making during childbirth. Conclusions: Postpartum mental health is shaped by interconnected psychological, behavioural and systemic factors. The high prevalence of distress underscores the need for integrated, woman-centred perinatal care that strengthens psychosocial support, improves communication and promotes maternal autonomy. Key messages: • Postpartum mental health challenges affect over one-third of mothers, highlighting a substantial and under-recognised public health burden across European settings. • Strengthening psychosocial support, communication and maternal autonomy is essential to improve perinatal care and promote maternal well-being.
SN - 1101-1262
SN - 1464-360X
ER -