Takeda Takashi, Yoshimi Kana, Kai Sayaka, Inoue Fumi
Division of Women's Health, Research Institute of Traditional Asian Medicine, Kindai University, Osaka, 589-8511, Japan.
Int J Womens Health. 2021 Nov 11;13:1087-1093. doi: 10.2147/IJWH.S338596. eCollection 2021.
Pregnant women are vulnerable to stress. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused a global pandemic and created significant stress for many people. Social distancing to reduce the spread of COVID-19 has also reduced social interactions, which has increased social isolation and loneliness. Loneliness is thought to increase perceived stress, cause psychological distress, and increase the risk of mental illness, such as depression. This study examined the association between serious psychological distress (SPD) and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic in pregnant Japanese women.
An internet survey of 1022 pregnant women in Japan was conducted between June 1 and July 21, 2021. The 6-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, 3-item Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale, and Fear of COVID-19 Scale were used as measurement tools. The prevalence of SPD was defined as a K6 score of ≥13.
The prevalence of SPD was 16.5%. Multivariate analysis revealed that the risk factors for SPD were younger age (odds ratio [OR] 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01 to 1.10; = 0.020), history of abortion or miscarriages (OR 1.56; 95% CI 1.04 to 2.36; = 0.034), unemployment (OR 1.67; 95% CI 1.14 to 2.45; = 0.008), fear of COVID-19 (OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.08 to 1.17; < 0.001), and loneliness (OR 1.53; 95% CI 1.38 to 1.70; < 0.001).
Pregnant women in Japan showed a high prevalence of SPD. Younger age, unemployment, history of abortion or miscarriages, fear of COVID-19, and loneliness were independently associated with SPD. Clinicians and health officials should pay particular attention to the psychological health of pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic.
孕妇易受压力影响。2019冠状病毒病（COVID - 19）已引发全球大流行，给许多人带来了巨大压力。为减少COVID - 19传播而采取的社交距离措施也减少了社交互动，从而增加了社会隔离和孤独感。孤独被认为会增加感知到的压力，导致心理困扰，并增加患精神疾病（如抑郁症）的风险。本研究调查了日本孕妇在COVID - 19大流行期间严重心理困扰（SPD）与孤独感之间的关联。
于2021年6月1日至7月21日对1022名日本孕妇进行了一项网络调查。使用6项凯斯勒心理困扰量表、3项修订版加州大学洛杉矶分校孤独量表和COVID - 19恐惧量表作为测量工具。SPD的患病率定义为凯斯勒6项量表（K6）得分≥13。
SPD的患病率为16.5%。多变量分析显示，SPD的危险因素包括年龄较小（比值比[OR] 1.05；95%置信区间[CI] 1.01至1.10；P = 0.020）、有流产史（OR 1.56；95% CI 1.04至2.36；P = 0.034）、失业（OR 1.67；95% CI 1.14至2.45；P = 0.008）、对COVID - 19的恐惧（OR 1.12；95% CI 1.08至1.17；P < 0.001）以及孤独感（OR 1.53；95% CI 1.38至1.70；P < 0.001）。
日本孕妇中SPD的患病率较高。年龄较小、失业、流产史、对COVID - 19的恐惧以及孤独感与SPD独立相关。临床医生和卫生官员在COVID - 19大流行期间应特别关注孕妇的心理健康。
