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Authors' reply

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Andrea Du Preez
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK. Email: andrea.du_preez@kcl.ac.uk
Susan Conroy
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK. Email: andrea.du_preez@kcl.ac.uk
Susan Pawlby
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK. Email: andrea.du_preez@kcl.ac.uk
Paul Moran
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK. Email: andrea.du_preez@kcl.ac.uk
Carmine M. Pariante
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK. Email: andrea.du_preez@kcl.ac.uk
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Abstract

Type
Columns
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2016 

We thank Professor Caan for his interesting correspondence on our paper and for providing some further insight into how ethnic density may impact on the risk of postnatal depression in our sample. The protective effect of ethnic density is thought to operate predominately through either (a) reducing exposure to racism, or (b) improved social support and social networks, Reference Bécares, Nazroo and Stafford1,Reference Bhugra and Becker2 and indeed, the latter is highly important in this context, given that poor social support is a strong predictor of postnatal depression. Reference Lancaster, Gold, Flynn, Yoo, Marcus and Davis3

We agree that family and household effects can have profound consequences on mental health, Reference Caan4 and that the proximity and ease of access to close friends and relatives is highly beneficial, especially for new mothers. Although our article refers to the importance of social support, and how this may be driving the protective effects of high ethnic density in our sample, we failed to dissect fully the mechanisms underpinning the associations between ethnic density and postnatal depression. This area would certainly benefit from further research, by enquiring about the locality of close family friends and relatives, so we may begin to understand more fully how high ethnic density may be exerting its protective effects.

References

1 Bécares, L, Nazroo, J, Stafford, M. The buffering effects of ethnic density on experienced racism and health. Health Place 2009; 15: 670–8.Google Scholar
2 Bhugra, D, Becker, M. Migration, cultural bereavement and cultural identity. World Psychiatry 2005; 4: 1824.Google Scholar
3 Lancaster, CA, Gold, KJ, Flynn, HA, Yoo, H, Marcus, SM, Davis, MM. Risk factors for depressive symptoms during pregnancy: a systematic review. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2010; 202: 514.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4 Caan, W. How family friendly is the UK? BMJ 2011; 343: 331–2.Google Scholar
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