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Hahn-Holbrook J, Haselton M. Is Postpartum Depression a Disease of Modern Civilization?. Curr Dir Psychol Sci. 2014;23(6):395-400doi: 10.1177/0963721414547736.
Hahn-Holbrook, J., & Haselton, M. (2014). Is Postpartum Depression a Disease of Modern Civilization?. Current directions in psychological science, 23(6), 395-400. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721414547736
Hahn-Holbrook, Jennifer, and Haselton, Martie. "Is Postpartum Depression a Disease of Modern Civilization?." Current directions in psychological science vol. 23,6 (2014): 395-400. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721414547736
Hahn-Holbrook J, Haselton M. Is Postpartum Depression a Disease of Modern Civilization?. Curr Dir Psychol Sci. 2014 Dec;23(6):395-400. doi: 10.1177/0963721414547736. Epub 2014 Dec 16. PMID: 28503034; PMCID: PMC5426853.
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Curr Dir Psychol Sci. 2014 Dec;23(6):395-400. doi: 10.1177/0963721414547736. Epub 2014 Dec 16.

Is Postpartum Depression a Disease of Modern Civilization?.

Current directions in psychological science

Jennifer Hahn-Holbrook, Martie Haselton

Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Chapman University, University of California, Los Angeles.
  2. Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles.
  3. Department of Communication Studies, University of California, Los Angeles.
  4. Institute for Society and Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles.

PMID: 28503034 PMCID: PMC5426853 DOI: 10.1177/0963721414547736

Abstract

Access to calorie-dense foods, medicine, and other comforts has made modern humans healthier than our prehistoric ancestors in many respects. However, the epidemics of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease suggest that there are also drawbacks to modern living. Here, we address the question of whether the dramatic cultural changes that have occurred over the past century have inflated rates of postpartum depression, adding postpartum depression to the list of "diseases of modern civilization." We review evidence from cross-cultural, epidemiological, and experimental studies documenting associations between postpartum depression and modern patterns of early weaning, diets deficient in essential fatty acids, low levels of physical activity, low levels of sun exposure, and isolation from kin support networks, all of which mark significant divergences from lifestyles believed to have been typical throughout human evolutionary history. This "mismatch hypothesis" of postpartum depression integrates research across diverse research areas and generates novel predictions.

Keywords: evolutionary medicine; exercise; omega-3 fatty acids; postpartum depression; social support

Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of conflicting interests: The authors declared that they had no conflicts of interest with respect to their authorship or the publication of this article.

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