Surabaya – Emotional support from husbands and families, together with early psychological screening, plays a crucial role in preventing baby blues syndrome among first-time mothers. Anxiety, stress, sleep deprivation, low self-confidence, and inadequate preparation for motherhood significantly increase the risk of emotional distress during the first two weeks after childbirth. These findings were reported by Mutiara Amalia, I Gusti Ayu Agung Noviekayati, and Suhadianto from the Faculty of Psychology, University of 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya, in a study published in 2026 in the International Journal of Scientific Multidisciplinary Research (IJSMR). Through a systematic literature review, the researchers concluded that psychosocial factors interact in complex ways, making comprehensive family support one of the strongest protective factors against baby blues syndrome.
The postpartum period is one of the most significant transitions in a woman's life. Besides recovering physically from childbirth, new mothers must adapt to breastfeeding, irregular sleep patterns, infant care, and a completely new family role. For first-time mothers, these adjustments can be particularly overwhelming because they have no previous parenting experience. When emotional and practical demands exceed available coping resources, mothers may experience frequent crying, irritability, anxiety, mood swings, fatigue, and feelings of inadequacy—symptoms commonly known as baby blues syndrome.
Although baby blues is generally temporary and usually resolves within two weeks, it should not be dismissed as a normal emotional reaction. Previous studies indicate that persistent or severe baby blues symptoms may serve as an early warning sign of postpartum depression if appropriate support and intervention are not provided. Therefore, identifying psychosocial risk factors early is considered essential for protecting maternal mental health.
To investigate these factors, the researchers conducted a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Articles were collected from PubMed, DOAJ, Google Scholar, and GARUDA databases covering publications from 2020 to 2026. After a rigorous screening process, 15 empirical studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the final qualitative synthesis. The selected studies examined various psychosocial influences on baby blues syndrome among primiparous mothers, including social support, anxiety, stress, coping strategies, maternal readiness, self-efficacy, marital relationships, sleep quality, fatigue, childbirth experiences, and economic conditions.
The review identified husband and family support as the most consistent protective factor. Emotional support, practical assistance with infant care, household responsibilities, and breastfeeding, along with accurate information and reassurance, significantly reduced mothers' emotional burden. Importantly, the researchers found that the quality of support mattered more than the number of people available. Support that respected mothers' decisions and responded to their actual needs was far more beneficial than controlling or overly critical involvement from family members.
Another major finding concerns the role of anxiety. First-time mothers commonly worry about breastfeeding, infant safety, body image, physical recovery, and whether they are capable of caring for their newborns. These worries often trigger sleep disturbances and persistent fatigue, creating a cycle that weakens emotional regulation and increases vulnerability to baby blues syndrome. The review emphasizes that anxiety is not merely a symptom but an important predictor that should be screened routinely during the postpartum period.
The researchers also found that maternal self-efficacy, or a mother's confidence in her ability to care for her baby, strongly influences emotional adjustment. Mothers who believe they can gradually learn parenting skills tend to interpret breastfeeding challenges or infant crying as manageable experiences. Conversely, mothers with low self-confidence often view these difficulties as personal failures, making emotional distress more likely. Adaptive coping strategies, open communication with partners, and resilience help mothers overcome these early parenting challenges.
Sleep quality and physical fatigue emerged as another important pathway linking psychosocial stress with emotional instability. Interrupted sleep, physical pain after childbirth, breastfeeding demands, and nighttime infant care reduce mothers' ability to regulate emotions. However, the review emphasizes that sleep deprivation is not merely a physical issue. It is also influenced by social factors, such as whether partners share caregiving responsibilities or whether extended family members provide meaningful practical assistance.
Other contributing factors identified in the review include marital conflict, financial pressure, unplanned pregnancy, negative childbirth experiences, limited knowledge about postpartum care, and insufficient access to mental health services. These factors rarely operate independently. Instead, they interact through what the researchers describe as a stress–adaptation–support pathway, in which high stress combined with inadequate support substantially increases vulnerability to emotional disorders after childbirth.
Based on these findings, the researchers recommend that psychosocial screening begin during pregnancy rather than waiting until after childbirth. Assessments should evaluate anxiety, emotional wellbeing, sleep quality, fatigue, readiness for motherhood, family support, and daily functioning. Follow-up evaluations are recommended before hospital discharge, again between the third and seventh postpartum days—when baby blues symptoms usually peak—and once more around the second week after childbirth. Mothers experiencing persistent symptoms, severe emotional impairment, or thoughts of self-harm should receive immediate professional referral.
According to Mutiara Amalia and colleagues, preventing baby blues syndrome requires more than educating mothers alone. Husbands, family members, midwives, nurses, and healthcare providers should work together to create a supportive environment that reduces maternal stress while promoting confidence and healthy adaptation to motherhood. Shared caregiving responsibilities, emotional reassurance, practical assistance, and timely psychological support are all essential components of comprehensive postpartum care.
Overall, the study demonstrates that baby blues syndrome is shaped by interconnected psychosocial factors rather than a single cause. By recognizing emotional vulnerability early, strengthening family support, and integrating routine psychological screening into maternal healthcare services, healthcare professionals can help first-time mothers navigate the transition to parenthood more confidently and reduce the risk of more serious postpartum mental health disorders.
Profil Penulis
Mutiara Amalia – Faculty of Psychology, Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya, Indonesia.
I Gusti Ayu Agung Noviekayati – Faculty of Psychology, Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya, Indonesia.
Suhadianto – Faculty of Psychology, Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya, Indonesia.
Sumber Penelitian
Judul: Psychosocial Factors Influencing Baby Blues Syndrome in Primiparous Mothers: A Systematic Literature Review.
Jurnal: International Journal of Scientific Multidisciplinary Research (IJSMR), Vol. 4 No. 7, 2026.
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