Pandemic-related pregnancy stress assessment–Psychometric properties of the Polish PREPS and its relationship with childbirth fear

Ilska, Michalina; Kołodziej-Zaleska, Anna; Brandt-Salmeri, Anna; Preis, Heidi; Lobel, Marci

doi:10.1016/j.midw.2021.102940

Cited by 33 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Pandemic-related prenatal perceptions were assessed at T1 using the Pandemic-Related Prenatal Stress Scale (PREPS) that has been validated in the U.S. and elsewhere [ [37] , [38] , [39] , [40] ]. The PREPS includes three distinct factors: PREPS-Preparedness, PREPS-Infection, and PREPS-Positive Appraisal.…”

Section: Participants Ethics and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on birth satisfaction in a prospective cohort of 2,341 U.S. women

et al. 2022

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Problem Birth satisfaction is an important health outcome that is related to postpartum mood, infant caretaking, and future pregnancy intention. Background The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly affected antenatal care and intrapartum practices that may reduce birth satisfaction. Aim To investigate the extent to which pandemic-related factors predicted lower birth satisfaction. Methods 2,341 women who were recruited prenatally in April-May 2020 and reported a live birth between April-October 2020 were included in the current analysis. Hierarchical linear regression to predict birth satisfaction from well-established predictors of birth satisfaction (step 1) and from pandemic-related factors (step 2) was conducted. Additionally, the indirect associations of pandemic-related stress with birth satisfaction were investigated. Findings The first step of the regression explained 35% of variance in birth satisfaction. In the second step, pandemic-related factors explained an additional 3% of variance in birth satisfaction. Maternal stress about feeling unprepared for birth due to the pandemic and restrictions on companions during birth independently predicted lower birth satisfaction beyond the non-pandemic variables. Pandemic-related unpreparedness stress was associated with more medicalized birth and greater incongruence with birth preference, thus also indirectly influencing birth satisfaction through a mediation process. Discussion Well-established contributors to birth satisfaction remained potent during the pandemic. In addition, maternal stress and restriction on accompaniment to birth were associated with a small but significant reduction in birth satisfaction. Conclusion Study findings suggest that helping women set flexible and reasonable expectations for birth and allowing at least one intrapartum support person can improve birth satisfaction.

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Section: Participants Ethics and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on birth satisfaction in a prospective cohort of 2,341 U.S. women

et al. 2022

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“…Item wording was tested for face validity by pregnant and non-pregnant women before the Stony Brook COVID-19 Pregnancy Experiences (SB-COPE) Study launch. The PREPS questionnaire was translated to several languages, and was found to have good psychometric properties in different populations [46,47]. For the current study, the scale was translated to Hebrew using the forward-and-back translation technique by bilingual researchers (see Supplementary Materials Figure S1).…”

Section: Instrumentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Women’s Depressive Symptoms during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Pregnancy

Yirmiya

Yakirevich-Amir

Preis

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has multiple ramifications for pregnant women. Untreated depression during pregnancy may have long-term effects on the mother and offspring. Therefore, delineating the effects of pregnancy on the mental health of reproductive-age women is crucial. This study aims to determine the risk for depressive symptoms in pregnant and non-pregnant women during COVID-19, and to identify its bio-psycho-social contributors. A total of 1114 pregnant and 256 non-pregnant women were recruited via social media in May 2020 to complete an online survey that included depression and anxiety questionnaires, as well as demographic, obstetric and COVID-19-related questionnaires. Pregnant women also completed the Pandemic-Related Pregnancy Stress Scale (PREPS). Pregnant women reported fewer depressive symptoms and were less concerned that they had COVID-19 than non-pregnant women. Among pregnant women, risk factors for depression included lower income, fewer children, unemployment, thinking that one has COVID-19, high-risk pregnancy, earlier gestational age, and increased pregnancy-related stress. Protective factors included increased partner support, healthy behaviors, and positive appraisal of the pregnancy. Thus, being pregnant is associated with reduced risk for depressive symptoms during the pandemic. Increased social support, engaging in health behaviors and positive appraisal may enhance resilience. Future studies of pregnant versus non-pregnant women could clarify the role of pregnancy during stressful events, and clarify aspects of susceptibility and resilience during pregnancy.

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“…Other reports on the mental health of pregnant women during the pandemic confirm these trends. Researchers highlight the prevalence of anxiety symptoms [ 2 , 9 , 10 ], severe pandemic stress [ 9 , 11 , 12 ], and depression [ 2 , 13 , 14 ] and also indicate that expectant and postpartum women have higher levels of anxiety and depression compared to similar cohorts assessed before the outbreak [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ]. Studies of the determinants of anxiety and depression in pregnancy conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic have confirmed the importance of risk factors described previously as well as stressors related to pandemic circumstances [ 19 , 20 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pandemic Stress and Its Correlates among Pregnant Women during the Second Wave of COVID-19 in Poland

Ilska

Kołodziej-Zaleska

Brandt-Salmeri

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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Background: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has created numerous stressful conditions, especially for vulnerable populations such as pregnant women. Pandemic-related pregnancy stress consists of two dimensions: stress associated with feeling unprepared for birth due to the pandemic (Preparedness Stress), and stress related to fears of perinatal COVID-19 infection (Perinatal Infection Stress). The purpose of our study was to elucidate the association between various factors—sociodemographic, obstetric, pandemic-related, and situational—and pandemic stress in its two dimensions during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Polish pregnant women. Methods: A cross-sectional study with a total of 1119 pregnant women recruited during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland (between November 2020 and January 2021). Participants were recruited via social media to complete an online study questionnaire that included sociodemographic, obstetric, situational, and COVID-19 pandemic factors, as well as the Pandemic-Related Pregnancy Stress Scale (PREPS). Results: Nearly 38.5% of participants reported high Preparedness Stress; 26% reported high Perinatal Infection Stress. Multivariate analyses indicated that lack of COVID-19 diagnosis, higher compliance with safety rules and restrictions, and limited access to outdoor space were independently associated with moderate to severe levels of Infection Stress. Current emotional or psychiatric problems, nulliparity, limited access to outdoor space, and alterations to obstetric visits were independently associated with moderate to severe Preparedness Stress. Conclusion: Study findings suggest that particular attention should be focused on the groups of pregnant women who are most vulnerable to pandemic-related stress and therefore may be more prone to adverse outcomes associated with prenatal stress.

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Pandemic-related pregnancy stress assessment–Psychometric properties of the Polish PREPS and its relationship with childbirth fear

Cited by 33 publications

References 17 publications

The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on birth satisfaction in a prospective cohort of 2,341 U.S. women

The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on birth satisfaction in a prospective cohort of 2,341 U.S. women

Women’s Depressive Symptoms during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Pregnancy

Pandemic Stress and Its Correlates among Pregnant Women during the Second Wave of COVID-19 in Poland

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