Mental health of pregnant and postpartum women in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Autor: Perzow SED; University of Denver, Department of Psychology, USA., Hennessey EP; University of Denver, Department of Psychology, USA., Hoffman MC; University of Colorado School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, USA., Grote NK; University of Washington, School of Social Work, USA., Davis EP; University of Denver, Department of Psychology, USA.; University of California, Irvine Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, USA., Hankin BL; The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Psychology, USA.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Journal of affective disorders reports [J Affect Disord Rep] 2021 Apr; Vol. 4, pp. 100123. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Feb 25.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jadr.2021.100123
Abstrakt: Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has been uniquely challenging for pregnant and postpartum women. Uncontrollable stress amplifies risk for maternal depression and anxiety, which are linked to adverse mother and child outcomes. This study examined change in internalizing symptoms from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic among pregnant and postpartum women longitudinally, and investigated moderation by loneliness and other contextual risk factors.
Methods: 135 women ( M age  = 31.81; 26% Latina, 55% non-Hispanic White, 11% Black; 39% low-income) enrolled in an existing prospective study completed self-report questionnaires including the EPDS and STAI-short form during early pregnancy, prior to COVID-19, and during COVID-19.
Results: Depressive symptoms were higher during COVID-19 compared to pre-COVID-19 and just as high as during early pregnancy. Anxiety symptoms were higher during COVID-19 compared to both pre-COVID-19 and early pregnancy. Higher loneliness was associated with increased depressive symptoms during COVID-19. Greater COVID-19 specific adversity was linked to greater increases in internalizing symptoms during COVID-19. Lower income-to-needs-ratio most strongly predicted symptoms during early pregnancy.
Limitations: The present study is longitudinal, but the correlational nature of the data precludes causal conclusions regarding the effect of the pandemic on mental health.
Conclusion: Longitudinal analyses suggest the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in increased internalizing symptoms among diverse pregnant and postpartum women. Interpersonal and contextual factors exacerbate risk and the impact of the pandemic on women's mental health. Identifying mothers at-risk for depression and anxiety may increase treatment utilization, mitigate fetal and infant exposure to maternal depression and anxiety, and help prevent adverse child outcomes.
Competing Interests: We have no conflicts of interest or competing interests to disclose.
(© 2021 The Authors.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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