Dataset Information

Postpartum Depressive Symptoms during the Beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Examination of Population Birth Data from Central New Jersey.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To examine the mental health of women in the perinatal period prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

We use provisional vital statistics data for births occurring in the central region of New Jersey. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale is employed to assess depressive symptoms. Our focal analysis uses linear regression models to test whether giving birth during the pandemic is associated with elevated depressive symptoms. All analyses are performed using time-matched (September 2019-April 2020; n?=?18,531) and month-matched (January 2019-April 2019 and January 2020- April 2020; n?=?18,346) samples.

Results

Women who gave birth in March and not in April reported higher levels of depressive symptoms than those who gave birth prior to the pandemic in our time-matched (b?=?0.09) and month-matched (b?=?0.09) samples. The magnitude of this association is approximately one-third the magnitude of the association between preterm birth and depressive symptoms.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that researchers and practitioners should pay special attention to signs of postpartum depression and women's adaptive coping responses in the early stages of pandemics.

SUBMITTER: McFarland MJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7829096 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Postpartum Depressive Symptoms during the Beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Examination of Population Birth Data from Central New Jersey.

McFarland Michael J MJ McFarland Cheryl A S CAS Hill Terrence D TD D'Oria Robyn R

Maternal and child health journal 20210125 3

<h4>Objectives</h4>To examine the mental health of women in the perinatal period prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic.<h4>Methods</h4>We use provisional vital statistics data for births occurring in the central region of New Jersey. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale is employed to assess depressive symptoms. Our focal analysis uses linear regression models to test whether giving birth during the pandemic is associated with elevated depressive symptoms. All analyses are performed usin ...[more]

PMID: 33492587

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Project description:BACKGROUND:Research indicates that poor sleep is associated with postpartum depression; however, little is known regarding this relationship among postpartum women who are at high for postpartum depression. This study examined the relationship between changes in self-reported sleep patterns (from six weeks to seven months postpartum) and depressive symptoms at seven months postpartum among women who were at high risk for postpartum depression. METHODS:Participants (n?=?122) were postpartum women who were at an increased risk for postpartum depression (personal or maternal history of depression) and had participated in a randomized exercise intervention trial. For the current trial, participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9; assessed depression) at six weeks and seven months postpartum. RESULTS:Overall, sleep problems significantly improved from six weeks to seven months postpartum. However, linear regression analyses indicated that worsening or minimal improvement of sleep problems were associated with higher depressive symptoms at seven month postpartum. Regarding the specific types of sleep problems, self-reported changes in sleep latency (i.e., how long it takes to fall asleep at night), daytime dysfunction (i.e., difficulty staying awake during the day), and sleep quality (i.e., subjective rating of sleep quality) were associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS:Sleep problems typically improve during the postpartum phase. However, postpartum women who are at high risk for postpartum depression are at an increased risk for depressive symptoms later in the postpartum phase if sleep problems worsen or show only minimal improvement over time. Therefore, at the six-week postpartum clinic visit, women should receive education regarding potential worsening of sleep patterns and strategies for preventing sleep-related problems. TRIAL REGISTRATION:Registered with ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT00961402 ) on August 18, 2009 prior to the start of the trial.

Dataset Information

Postpartum Depressive Symptoms during the Beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Examination of Population Birth Data from Central New Jersey.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Postpartum Depressive Symptoms during the Beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Examination of Population Birth Data from Central New Jersey.

Similar Datasets

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