Objective To investigate the prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD), parenting self-efficacy, and empathy ability in elderly parturients during the puerperium, and analyze their correlations.

Methods A total of 506 elderly parturients who gave birth in the obstetrics department from January 2021 to December 2023 were selected as study subjects. Basic demographic information, including age, education level, marital status, employment status, and family income per month, was collected through a questionnaire survey. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to assess the occurrence of PPD. Based on the presence or absence of PPD, elderly parturients were divided into PPD group and non-PPD (NPPD) group. The Parenting Self-Efficacy Scale (PMPS-E) was employed to evaluate parenting self-efficacy, and the Empathy Quotient Scale (EQ) was used to assess empathy ability. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore independent risk factors for PPD in elderly parturients. Spearman correlation analysis was used to examine the relationships between PPD, parenting self-efficacy, and empathy ability. Pearson correlation analysis was employed to investigate the relationship between parenting self-efficacy and empathy ability in elderly parturients.

Results A total of 495 valid surveys were collected, with a response rate of 97.82%. The survey results showed that parturients aged 35 to 40 accounted for the highest proportion (45.25%). The majority had an undergraduate or junior college education level, accounting for 44.65%. Married parturients accounted for 85.45%. Among occupational distributions, those without fixed employment were more common, accounting for 40.00%. Most families had a monthly income of 5, 000 to 10, 000 Chinese yuan, accounting for 41.41%. Cesarean section was the predominant mode of delivery, accounting for 43.43%. The PMPS-E and EQ scores of elderly parturients in the PPD group were lower than those in the NPPD group (P < 0.05). Statistically significant differences were observed between the PPD and NPPD groups in terms of education level, employment status, marital status, and family monthly income (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that low education level, unstable marital status, lack of fixed employment, and low family income per month were independent risk factors for PPD (P < 0.05). Spearman correlation analysis indicated negative correlations of PPD with parenting self-efficacy and empathy ability (r=-0.475, -0.382; P < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis demonstrated a positive correlation between parenting self-efficacy and empathy ability (r=0.426; P < 0.05).

Conclusion PPD in elderly parturients is closely related to their parenting self-efficacy and empathy ability. Education level, marital status, lack of fixed employment, and family income are factors influencing the occurrence of PPD.