Perzow Sarah E D, Hennessey Ella-Marie P, Hoffman M Camille, Grote Nancy K, Davis Elysia Poggi, Hankin Benjamin L
University of Denver, Department of Psychology, USA.
University of Colorado School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, USA.
J Affect Disord Rep. 2021 Apr;4:100123. doi: 10.1016/j.jadr.2021.100123. Epub 2021 Feb 25.
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.
135 women ( = 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.
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.
The present study is longitudinal, but the correlational nature of the data precludes causal conclusions regarding the effect of the pandemic on mental health.
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.
新型冠状病毒肺炎（COVID-19）大流行对孕妇和产后妇女构成了独特的挑战。无法控制的压力会增加产妇抑郁和焦虑的风险，而这与母婴不良结局有关。本研究纵向考察了孕妇和产后妇女在COVID-19大流行之前至期间内化症状的变化，并研究了孤独感和其他背景风险因素的调节作用。
135名妇女（平均年龄=31.81岁；26%为拉丁裔，55%为非西班牙裔白人，11%为黑人；39%为低收入）参与了一项现有的前瞻性研究，在怀孕早期、COVID-19之前以及COVID-19期间完成了包括爱丁堡产后抑郁量表（EPDS）和状态-特质焦虑量表简版（STAI-简版）在内的自我报告问卷。
与COVID-19之前相比，COVID-19期间的抑郁症状更高，且与怀孕早期一样高。与COVID-19之前和怀孕早期相比，COVID-19期间的焦虑症状更高。更高的孤独感与COVID-19期间抑郁症状的增加有关。更大的COVID-19特定逆境与COVID-19期间内化症状的更大增加有关。较低的收入需求比最能强烈预测怀孕早期的症状。
本研究是纵向研究，但数据的相关性性质排除了关于大流行对心理健康影响的因果结论。
纵向分析表明，COVID-19大流行导致不同的孕妇和产后妇女内化症状增加。人际和背景因素会加剧风险以及大流行对妇女心理健康的影响。识别有抑郁和焦虑风险的母亲可能会增加治疗的利用率，减轻胎儿和婴儿暴露于母亲抑郁和焦虑的情况，并有助于预防不良儿童结局。
