The postpartum period undergoes significant neuroanatomical remodeling in maternal brain structure, which exerts profound effects on both parenting behaviors and child development. However, research regarding the specific risk factors influencing maternal mental health remains insufficient. During this period, the surge in experience-dependent neuroplasticity may elucidate how environmental and neurobiological factors relate to maternal psychological well-being. In particular, factors such as psychosocial stressors, adverse environmental conditions, and a history of psychopathology are identified as critical determinants that increase the risk of postpartum depression (PPD) and anxiety. In this context, understanding the impact of these factors on mothers is of critical importance for mitigating negative outcomes and societal costs.

Park and colleagues administered comprehensive surveys and clinical evaluations to participants at various prenatal and postpartum time points. The study utilized Similarity Network Fusion (SNF), integrating multimodal neuroimaging indices — regional gray matter volume and task-based functional connectivity — with environmental survey data and interview responses obtained from 87 mothers. This multimodal approach identified three distinct groups differentiated by behavioral and clinical assessments, as well as neural features supporting emotional processing. The research successfully detected differences in postpartum mood symptoms across these identified groups.

In conclusion, this study reveals that postpartum mental health is not contingent upon a single cause. It establishes that mothers with high levels of childhood trauma, intense pregnancy-related stress, and a prior diagnosis of depression or anxiety constitute the highest-risk group, exhibiting the most pronounced symptoms of postpartum depression, anxiety, and stress. Conversely, those with a history of depression who nevertheless possess protective neural structures and connectivity patterns fall into the moderate-risk group. Finally, mothers with no prior psychiatric history and more favorable environmental conditions comprise the lowest-risk group. The study emphasizes the necessity of evaluating environmental stressors, psychiatric history, and neurobiological characteristics within an integrated framework. These findings provide a scientific foundation for the early identification of at-risk mothers and the development of targeted protective interventions.