Cultural Stigma and Emotional Suppression in the Experience of Postpartum Depression Among Chinese Mothers

Abstract

Postpartum depression (PPD) has emerged as a growing public health and cultural concern in China, where rapid modernization intersects with enduring moral traditions. Despite increasing awareness of mental health, cultural ideals of endurance, self-sacrifice, and emotional restraint continue to shape how Chinese mothers experience and express psychological distress. Drawing on sociocultural, philosophical, and institutional perspectives, this paper explores how shame, silence, and moral expectations surrounding motherhood contribute to the invisibility of postpartum depression. It examines the historical roots of emotional suppression in Confucian and Daoist thought, the intergenerational pressures that reinforce compliance and concealment, and the digital performance of happiness that perpetuates unrealistic maternal ideals. The discussion highlights how institutional neglect and family-based moral frameworks transform emotional suffering into a private, morally charged experience rather than a recognized condition deserving of care. By reinterpreting vulnerability as a form of moral strength and advocating for culturally grounded destigmatization strategies, the paper proposes pathways toward empathy-centered maternal healthcare and a redefined moral understanding of emotional expression in China. Postpartum depression, viewed through this lens, reflects not only individual pain but also the broader moral and emotional transformation of a society balancing modern individuality with collective harmony.