Maternal personality, social support, and changes in depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms during pregnancy and after delivery: A prospective-longitudinal study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The role of maternal personality and perceived social support for peripartum changes in psychopathological symptoms remains unresolved.

Methods

In a regional-epidemiological sample of 306 women, depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms were assessed three times during pregnancy and three times after delivery with the 21-item version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale. In pregnancy, the Big Five personality traits and perceived social support were assessed with the short version of the Big Five Inventory and the Social Support Questionnaire.

Results

Multilevel analyses revealed that depressive (b = -0.055) and stress (b = -0.047) symptoms decreased from early to late pregnancy. After delivery, anxiety symptoms were lower (two months postpartum: b = -0.19

SUBMITTER: Asselmann E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7446870 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature