Introduction: Prenatal depression is considered one of the most common health problems during pregnancy. It occurs in 10-20% of pregnant women and is a serious illness that has a detrimental effect on both the woman and her child. The prenatal period can be a time of increased vulnerability for women, with serious social, emotional, physical and financial consequences. Purpose: The purpose of this work is to investigate the relationship between social support and the development of prenatal depression. Methods: A descriptive method of work is used with a systematic review of professional and scientific literature. The bibliographic database PubMed was used. The literature was selected according to the PRISMA guidelines. The studies were analyzed according to the research design, characteristics of the subjects, characteristics of the interventions, measurement tools for monitoring outcomes, and main findings. Results: A total of eight articles were included in the final literature review: a meta-analysis with a literature review, five cross-sectional studies, one longitudinal study, and a review of qualitative studies. We evaluated and categorized the quality of the studies using an evidence hierarchy that defines eight levels. One study was classified at level four, six studies were classified at level five, and one at level six. A total of 69,873 women were included in the studies, with the largest number in the meta-analysis, which included 64,449 women. The review showed consistency in the findings that a higher level of social support is associated with less symptoms of depression during pregnancy. In their studies, the authors particularly emphasize the importance of support from the partner and family of pregnant women. Discussion and conclusion: A review of the literature consistently confirms that a higher level of social support acts as a key protective factor and reduces the risk of developing prenatal depression. This positive effect of social support is present in different cultural settings and works through the psychological mechanism of stress mitigation and regulation of the body's neurobiological responses. Due to the proven benefits of social support for pregnant women’s mental health, it is essential to include a systematic assessment of the social network in clinical practice in the future and to promote interventions to strengthen social support for pregnant women.
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