Prevalence of Maternal Postnatal Anxiety and Its Association With Demographic and Socioeconomic Factors: A Multicentre Study in Italy

Abstract

Anxiety is a common perinatal disorder that can cause severe adverse consequences. This study (a) assesses the prevalence of maternal postnatal anxious symptomatology, and (b) analyses its association with demographic and socioeconomic variables as well as obstetric and other psychosocial variables. The assessment included 307 mothers aged ≥18 years with a biological baby aged ≤ 52 weeks and from seven Italian healthcare centres, evaluated using a Psychosocial and Clinical Assessment Form (also covering demographic and socioeconomic factors), and the state scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. We found an overall prevalence of self-reported postnatal anxious symptoms of 34.2%. More specifically, the prevalence was 34.5% at 1–24 weeks postpartum, and 30.8% at >24 weeks postpartum. No associations between postnatal anxious symptoms and demographic or socioeconomic variables were observed. As regards the other variables, the findings indicated antenatal depression or anxiety, parity, and current psychological support from the partner as having the strongest relationships.

Anxiety appraisal in mothers of preterm neonates admitted in critical care unit

“…Our study signposts that approximately one in three mothers with preterm neonates in the NICU reported experiencing anxiety. These findings align closely with the prevalence reported by Benner and Cenna with reported prevalence as 26.5% and 34.2% respectively (13, 14) . In contrast, Dannis et al and Radosn et al reported a significantly lower prevalence of anxiety, approximately 50% less than what we observed in our study (12, 15) .…”

“…Additionally, we found that primiparity significantly increased the risk of postnatal maternal anxiety, supporting earlier research that linked anxiety symptoms to first-time mothers (14) . It is generally accepted that multiparous mothers have more experience, training, and expertise in parenting, all of which are protective factors against anxiety (18) .…”

“…Additionally, we found that primiparity significantly increased the risk of postnatal maternal anxiety, supporting earlier research that linked anxiety symptoms to first-time mothers (14) .…”

Study on the effect of intervention on postpartum psychological improvement and body recovery of caesarean section women based on information‐motivation‐behavioural skills model

“…It has been reported that the prevalence of maternal postnatal anxious symptomatology was 34.5% at 1-24 weeks postpartum, and 30.8% at >24 weeks postpartum, which seriously affects maternal mental health and postpartum quality of life (Cena et al, 2021).…”

“…It has been reported that the prevalence of maternal postnatal anxious symptomatology was 34.5% at 1–24 weeks postpartum, and 30.8% at >24 weeks postpartum, which seriously affects maternal mental health and postpartum quality of life (Cena et al, 2021 ). Our results showed that the SAS and SDS scores of patients that received the IMB model of nursing were significantly lower than those who received routine nursing.…”