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

Yirmiya, Karen; Yakirevich-Amir, Noa; Preis, Heidi; Lotan, Amit; Atzil, Shir; Reuveni, Inbal

doi:10.3390/ijerph18084298

Cited by 36 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 82 publications

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“…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: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 52%

“…The Pandemic-Related Pregnancy Stress Scale (PREPS [ 22 ]; Polish adaptation [ 11 ]) is a novel instrument that assesses prenatal stress during the pandemic. The PREPS has been translated into several languages and has been found to have good psychometric properties in different populations [ 12 , 19 , 20 ]. The PREPS includes a subscale that assesses stress related to preparation for birth and the postpartum period due to the pandemic (PREPS-Preparedness; PREPS-PS) and a second subscale that assesses stress involving concerns about infection of oneself or one’s fetus/baby (PREPS-Infection; PREPS-IS).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous studies indicate that prenatal stress (including pandemic stress) and fear of childbirth are factors that may disrupt preparation for delivery and the course of the delivery itself and increase the likelihood of adverse birth outcomes including low birth weight and preterm delivery [ 23 , 24 , 25 ]. Moreover, recent research indicates that pandemic-related stress is a powerful construct that can affect the mental health of pregnant women, including an increase in symptoms of depression and anxiety [ 9 , 20 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 52%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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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“…A hypothesis that could be analyzed in future studies is whether the cause of a lower level of psychological distress among Peruvian women can be explained by greater family support or even pregnancy, which has proved to increase protection against COVID-19 mental health effects by diminishing depressive symptoms and increasing resilience and positive thinking [63]. Future lines of research have been proposed, including new variables related to the economy or health system, as well as to understanding the evolution of mental health effects over time.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health in Peru: Psychological Distress

et al. 2021

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This pandemic has been classified as a “psychological pandemic” that produces anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and sleep disorders. As the mental health effects of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, continue to unfold, there are still large knowledge gaps about the variables that predispose individuals to, or protect individuals against the disease. However, there are few publications on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of citizens in Latin American countries. In this study, the effects that COVID-19 had on citizens of Peru have been described. For this, 1699 questionnaires, collected between 2 April and 2 September 2020, were analyzed. Descriptive, bivariate analysis was performed with odds ratio (OR) calculations and a data mining methodology. Sociodemographic variables (from the General Health Questionnaire), health conditions and perception, symptoms, and variables related to contact and preventive measures regarding COVID-19 were analyzed. As compared to other countries, less affectation of mental health and increased use of preventive measures were observed. It has been suggested that the country’s precarious health system and poverty rates prior to the pandemic may justify higher mortality figures in Peru than in other Latin American countries, despite prompt action for its containment and compliance with the protective measures. Psychological distress had a greater incidence in women, young people, people without a partner, and people without university studies. The most significant conditioning variables were self-perceived health status, headache or muscle pain over the past 14 days, level of studies, and age. The extensive use of preventive measures against COVID-19 is in line with the strict legislative measures taken, and this is, in turn, in line with other countries when looking at the lower effect on mental health, but contrary when focusing on the high lethality identified. The need to include the economy or availability and quality of healthcare in future studies arises, as well as the suitability to analyze the cause for differences between countries.

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

Cited by 36 publications

References 82 publications

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

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

Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health in Peru: Psychological Distress

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

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