Key elements and theoretical logic of perinatal women’s depressive psychological help-seeking behavior: an analysis based on grounded theory

Ling, Ya and Mohd Arifin, Siti Roshaidai and Lee, Siew Pien and Mohamed Zain, Siti Hajar (2026) Key elements and theoretical logic of perinatal women’s depressive psychological help-seeking behavior: an analysis based on grounded theory. Methodology Insight, 1 (4). pp. 1-24. ISSN 3079-4412 E-ISSN 3107-2135

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Abstract

Perinatal depression is an important public health problem affecting mental health of mothers and infants. However, within the mental health service system, psychological help-seeking behavior among perinatal women still faces difficulties such as low service utilization, unclear pathways, and process barriers, which limit early identification and intervention for depression. As a component of the depression intervention chain, the formation mechanism and internal logic of help-seeking behavior among perinatal women lack explanation. Based on the grounded theory approach, this study selected perinatal women in central China as research participants. Data on their depression and psychological help-seeking experiences were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews and analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding.The findings indicate that help-seeking behavior was initiated by depression cognition and problem awareness. Under the influence of emotional and relational support and experiences of mental health stigma, women weighed available resources and adjusted helpseeking decisions through feedback from interactions. These elements interacted within specific contexts to form a dynamic, evolving, cyclic feedback process. Accordingly, this study constructed a theoretical model of perinatal women’s psychological help-seeking behavior, revealing the internal logical pathway of “perception-trade-off-action-feedback”, and providing a theoretical reference for optimizing perinatal mental health services and improving intervention accuracy.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Perinatal Depression; Psychological Help-Seeking Behavior; Grounded Theory; Key Elements; Social Support
Subjects:	R Medicine > RG Gynecology and obstetrics R Medicine > RG Gynecology and obstetrics > RG103.5 Psychological and psychosomatic aspects R Medicine > RG Gynecology and obstetrics > RG940 Maternal care. Prenatal care services R Medicine > RT Nursing
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Nursing
Depositing User:	Dr. Siti Roshaidai Mohd Arifin
Date Deposited:	13 Apr 2026 13:21
Last Modified:	13 Apr 2026 13:21
Queue Number:	2026-04-Q2791
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/128245

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