Postpartum depression affects nearly 1 in 7 new mothers—yet predicting who might experience it has long remained a challenge. Now, a new study from researchers in Poland sheds light on a promising early warning sign: your body’s stress hormone, cortisol.
Published in Scientific Reports (2025), the research shows that lower levels of cortisol in hair samples taken during the first trimester of pregnancy are associated with higher risk of postpartum depressive symptoms. Even more intriguing, the researchers found that this relationship is influenced by something psychological: how a woman views time and her sense of control over the future.
🧪 What the Study Found
The study involved 75 pregnant women in Poland. In the first trimester, the researchers measured:
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Hair cortisol concentration (reflecting long-term stress hormone levels)
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Perceived stress levels
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Depressive symptoms
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Time perspective (i.e., how people think about the past, present, and future)
Then, three months after giving birth, they checked back in to assess postpartum depression symptoms.
The surprising result? Women with lower cortisol levels early in pregnancy were more likely to report depressive symptoms postpartum—but this connection was stronger among women who also had a fatalistic time perspective.
In simpler terms: if a woman had low stress hormone levels and believed that her actions had little impact on her future, she was more likely to become depressed after giving birth.
🧠 Why This Matters
This study offers a compelling new angle on maternal mental health. Most research focuses on elevated cortisol as a risk factor, but this study suggests too little cortisol—possibly a sign of chronic stress dysregulation—may also be a red flag.
Even more importantly, it highlights the psychological lens through which a woman views her life. Feeling helpless, uncertain, or like the future is out of your control can make mental health outcomes worse, especially during major life transitions like childbirth.
💡 What This Means for Moms and Providers
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Early Detection: A simple hair sample could help spot women at higher risk for postpartum depression—before symptoms begin.
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Mental Framing Matters: Helping expectant mothers shift from fatalism to empowerment (through counseling, education, or mindfulness) could reduce risk.
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Personalized Support: Combining biological markers with psychological screening creates a more holistic view of maternal well-being.
📌 Bottom Line
This study is an important step toward understanding the complex web of biology and psychology that contributes to postpartum depression. While more research is needed, these early findings could one day help caregivers provide earlier, more personalized support for pregnant women—potentially addressing one of the most common and devastating complications of childbirth.
