Differences in postpartum depressive symptoms across survey waves among Chinese mothers and their association with structural resources: a repeated cross-sectional study based on CFPS data.

Objective: Using China Family Panel Studies data (CFPS; 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022), this study examined between-sample differences in postpartum depressive symptoms across survey waves in China and their association with structural resources. Methods: This repeated cross-sectional study included 827 mothers living in households with 0-year-old infants, identified by linking child questionnaires, family relationship files, and adult questionnaires. Depressive symptoms were measured using the CES-D total score. Elevated depressive symptoms were defined as CES-D ≥ 36, approximately corresponding to the conventional CES-D ≥ 16 cutoff. Structural resources were measured using an index based on educational attainment, employment status, and urban-rural residence. Descriptive statistics, multiple linear regression, binary logistic regression, and sensitivity analyses were conducted. Results: Mean CES-D scores across the four survey-wave samples were 32.1 ± 7.0, 32.8 ± 6.3, 32.8 ± 7.7, and 34.2 ± 8.4. The proportions with elevated depressive symptoms were 25.3, 28.5, 27.4, and 31.4%. In fully adjusted models, the 2022 sample had higher CES-D scores ( Conclusion: Postpartum depressive symptoms differed across CFPS survey-wave samples. Higher structural resources were modestly associated with lower odds of elevated depressive symptoms.