Depression and Anxiety during Pregnancy: The Influence of Maternal Characteristics

Abstract

Introduction: Depression and anxiety during pregnancy are associated with adverse health outcomes for both mother and child. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of symptoms of depression and anxiety in early and late pregnancy, the longitudinal changes from early to late pregnancy, and factors associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety in pregnant women in the Netherlands. Methods: We studied 2897 women participating in the PRegnancy and Infant DEvelopment (PRIDE) Study. To assess symptoms of depression and anxiety, web-based questionnaires including the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and multiple questions on maternal characteristics, including demographics, health, and lifestyle factors, were completed in early and late pregnancy. Cross-sectional and longitudinal multivariable linear regression analyses were conducted. Results: According to the HADS, the prevalence of depression in our population increased from 5.4% in early pregnancy to 10.0% in late pregnancy (p < 0.001), whereas the prevalence of anxiety decreased from 17.9% to 14.2% (p < 0.001). Several maternal characteristics, such as level of education, multiparity, a history of depression, severe nausea, extreme fatigue, lack of physical exercise, and negative life events were associated with symptoms of depression and/or anxiety throughout pregnancy. Being non-Dutch, not living with a partner, and having an unplanned pregnancy or a prolonged time to pregnancy influenced the depression and/or anxiety scores in early pregnancy only. Conclusions: Depression and anxiety are common disorders in both early and late pregnancy. Screening for risk factors for these disorders in early pregnancy is important, since prenatal depression and anxiety may be related to adverse maternal and child health outcomes.

Suicide attempt and its associated factors amongst women who were pregnant as adolescents in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study

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Anxiety among women experiencing medically complicated pregnancy: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

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The mediating role of prenatal depression in adult attachment and maternal-fetal attachment in primigravida in the third trimester

“…A study conducted in South African showed that the prevalence of prenatal depression was 21% [ 46 ]. The prevalence of prenatal depression was 27.5% among Turkish Women [ 47 ], 10.0% during late pregnancy in the Netherlands [ 48 ], 14.8% in Spain [ 49 ], and 6.1% in the US [ 50 ]. These results also indicate that there are differences in the prevalence of prenatal depression among pregnant women from different cultures.…”