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Abdul-Fatah A, Bezanson M, Lopez Steven S, Tippins E, Jones S, MacDonald H, Ysseldyk R. COVID-19 Public Health Restrictions and New Mothers' Mental Health: A Qualitative Scoping Review. QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH 2024:10497323241251984. [PMID: 39030700 DOI: 10.1177/10497323241251984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/21/2024]
Abstract
Public health restrictions to protect physical health during the COVID-19 pandemic had unintended effects on mental health, which may have disproportionately affected some potentially vulnerable groups. This scoping review of qualitative research provides a narrative synthesis of new mothers' perspectives on their mental health during COVID-19 pandemic restrictions through pregnancy to the postpartum period. Database searches in PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO sought primary research studies published until February 2023, which focused on new mothers' self-perceived mental health during the pandemic (N = 55). Our synthesis found that new mothers' mental health was impacted by general public health restrictions resulting in isolation from family and friends, a lack of community support, and impacts on the immediate family. However, public health restrictions specific to maternal and infant healthcare were most often found to negatively impact maternal mental health, namely, hospital policies prohibiting the presence of birthing partners and in-person care for their infants. This review of qualitative research adds depth to previous reviews that have solely examined the quantitative associations between COVID-19 public health restrictions and new mothers' mental health. Here, our review demonstrates the array of adverse impacts of COVID-19 public health restrictions on new mothers' mental health throughout pregnancy into the postpartum period, as reported by new mothers. These findings may be beneficial for policy makers in future public health emergency planning when evaluating the impacts and unintended consequences of public health restrictions on new mothers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michelle Bezanson
- Department of Health Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | | | - Emily Tippins
- Department of Health Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Sarah Jones
- Department of Health Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | | | - Renate Ysseldyk
- Department of Health Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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Preis H, Somers J, Mahaffey B, Lobel M. When pregnancy and pandemic coincide: changes in stress and anxiety over the course of pregnancy. J Reprod Infant Psychol 2024; 42:395-409. [PMID: 36069499 PMCID: PMC9989037 DOI: 10.1080/02646838.2022.2117289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pregnant women experienced high levels of perceived stress and anxiety at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the course of stress and anxiety in individual pregnant women during the pandemic is unknown. METHODS Participants were 1,087 women ≤20 weeks pregnant in April-May 2020 (T1) at recruitment into the Stony Brook COVID-19 Pregnancy Experiences (SB-COPE) Study, with additional assessments in July-August 2020 (T2) and October 2020 (T3). Growth mixture models conditioned on covariates were used to identify patterns of change over time in pandemic-related stress (originating from feeling unprepared for birth and fearing perinatal infection), pregnancy-specific stress, and anxiety symptoms. RESULTS A uniform pattern of change (i.e. one-class solution) in stress perceptions was observed over time. Participants showed the same functional form of decreases in all three types of stress perceptions over the course of their pregnancy and as the pandemic persisted. Initial level of stress did not predict change over time. Anxiety symptoms had a two-class solution in which 25% of participants had high and convex patterns of anxiety, and 75% had low levels with concave patterns. DISCUSSION Stress perceptions and anxiety patterns of change over the course of pregnancy during the COVID-19 pandemic were different. Therefore, to evaluate the well-being of pregnant women during a global health crisis, it is important to assess both stress perceptions and emotional stress responses (i.e. anxiety). Screening for anxiety symptoms in early pregnancy would be valuable as symptoms may not spontaneously decrease even when stressful conditions improve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Preis
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University
| | - Jennifer Somers
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University
| | - Brittain Mahaffey
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University
| | - Marci Lobel
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University
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Liébana-Presa C, García-Fernández R, Martín-Vázquez C, Martínez-Fernández MC, Hidalgo-Lopezosa P. Anxiety, prenatal distress, and resilience during the first trimester of gestation. Rev Esc Enferm USP 2024; 58:e20230290. [PMID: 38743956 PMCID: PMC11110171 DOI: 10.1590/1980-220x-reeusp-2023-0290en] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe and analyze the relationship between pregnancy-related anxiety, prenatal distress, and individual resilience in pregnant women during the first trimester of pregnancy and compare it with the obstetric variable of parity. METHOD Quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study using non-probabilistic circumstantial sampling. A total of 144 women participated. The Prenatal Distress Questionnaire, the Resilience Scale, and the Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire were used. A descriptive analysis with measures of central tendency was performed, and the reliability of the instruments was assessed. RESULTS The average age was 33.57 years. 58.3% were multiparous and 41.7% primiparous. Anxiety was found in 21.5% and very high levels of resilience in 54.9%. Primiparous women showed higher levels of worry about the future and fear of childbirth than multiparous women. Pregnant women with high resilience showed lower levels of anxiety and stress. CONCLUSION Pregnant women with higher levels of resilience show less anxiety and stress during the first trimester of pregnancy. Primiparous women show more anxiety and stress than multiparous women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Liébana-Presa
- Universidad de León, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Departamento de Enferemría y Fisioterapia, Ponferrada, España
| | - Rubén García-Fernández
- Universidad de León, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Departamento de Enferemría y Fisioterapia, Ponferrada, España
| | - Cristian Martín-Vázquez
- Universidad de León, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Departamento de Enferemría y Fisioterapia, Ponferrada, España
| | | | - Pedro Hidalgo-Lopezosa
- Universidad de Córdoba, Facultad de Medicina y Enfermería, Departamneto de Enfermeira, Farmacología y Fisioterpia, Córdoba, España
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Garcia-Leon MA, Martin-Tortosa PL, Cambio-Ledesma A, Caparros-Gonzalez RA. The COVID-19 Pandemic and Psychopathological symptoms in pregnant women in Spain. J Reprod Infant Psychol 2023; 41:503-515. [PMID: 35261321 DOI: 10.1080/02646838.2022.2047623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the COVID-19 pandemic, pregnant women are exposed to potentially harmful stressors that might affect their health. The direct consequences that SARS-CoV-2 may have on perinatal mental health are still unknown. OBJECTIVE The present study aimed to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychopathological symptoms in a sample of Spanish pregnant women. METHODS A sample of 186 pregnant women was assessed using the revised Symptoms Check List-90 during the first lockdown in Spain. RESULTS The results showed clinical scores on the obsession and compulsion, anxiety and phobic anxiety subscales, as well as on the severity indexes. Phobic anxiety was the only variable that was inversely correlated with age and the number of previous miscarriages. A linear regression model showed that age was inversely associated with phobic anxiety scores. A younger age was associated with higher levels of phobic anxiety symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicated that younger pregnant women and women in the first trimester of pregnancy were more vulnerable to the effects of stress and concerns about COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Angeles Garcia-Leon
- FIDMAG Sisters Hospitallers Research Foundation, Barcelona, Spain
- Mind, Brain and Behaviour Research Center, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Rafael A Caparros-Gonzalez
- Nursing Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain
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Riquelme-Gallego B, Martínez-Vázquez S, Caparros-Gonzalez RA. Pandemic-related stress in pregnant women during the first COVID-19 lockdown and neonatal development. J Reprod Infant Psychol 2023:1-16. [PMID: 37469194 DOI: 10.1080/02646838.2023.2237527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal stress and psychopathology have a negative effect on mothers and neonates. Maternal stress may affect neonatal growth and development both physically and psychologically. PURPOSE To study the impact of pandemic-related pregnancy stress and maternal psychopathological symptoms during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 on neonatal development. METHODS A two-phase prospective study was carried out on a sample of 181 pregnant women ranged from 18 to 40 years old in Spain (Europe). Phase 1: Pandemic-related pregnancy stress (PREPS), Prenatal Distress Questionnaire (PDQ), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the revised version of the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90-R) were used to assess psychological symptoms during the lockdown. In the follow-up (Phase 2), obstetric, birth-related and anthropometric variables were collected from 81 pregnant women-neonates dyads. RESULTS Primiparous women showed higher psychopathological symptoms and higher levels of pandemic-related pregnancy stress than multiparous women. A multiple linear regression model showed that pandemic-related pregnancy stress could predict the length of neonate by adjusting for maternal age and gestational age, especially for primiparous women. IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH Studies assessing neonates development should evaluate the long-term effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on neonates´ length. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE States the relation between pandemic-related pregnancy stress and neonatal development by being able to track the effects on neonates whose mothers had high levels of stress during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blanca Riquelme-Gallego
- Department of Nursing of the University of Granada, Ceuta Campus, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria Ibs. GRANADA, Granada, Spain
| | | | - Rafael A Caparros-Gonzalez
- Department of Nursing of the University of Granada, Ceuta Campus, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria Ibs. GRANADA, Granada, Spain
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Chilaka VN, Navti O, Opoku A, Okunoye GO, Babarinsa I, Odukoya OA, Bako A, Sulaiman AKP, Mohan M. Managing Labour in Women with COVID-19. J Clin Med 2023; 12:3980. [PMID: 37373674 PMCID: PMC10299190 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12123980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Since first reported in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, COVID-19 caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Corona virus2 (SARS CoV-2) quickly spread to become a pandemic that has caused significant morbidity and mortality. The rapidity of the spread of the virus and the high mortality at the outset threatened to overwhelm health systems worldwide, and, indeed, this significantly impacted maternal health, especially since there was minimal experience to draw from. Experience with Covid 19 has grown exponentially as the unique needs of pregnant and labouring women with COVID-19 infection have become more evident. Managing COVID-19 parturients requires a multidisciplinary team consisting of anaesthesiologists, obstetricians, neonatologists, nursing staff, critical care staff, infectious disease and infection control experts. There should be a clear policy on triaging patients depending on the severity of their condition and the stage of labour. Those at high risk of respiratory failure should be managed in a tertiary referral centre with facilities for intensive care and assisted respiration. Staff and patients in delivery suites and operating rooms should be protected by enforcing infection protection principles such as offering dedicated rooms and theatres to SARS CoV-2 positive patients and using personal protective equipment. All hospital staff must be trained in infection control measures which should be updated regularly. Breastfeeding and care of the new-born must be part of the healthcare package offered to COVID-19 parturient mothers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Ngozi Chilaka
- Hamad Medical Corporation Qatar, Doha 3050, Qatar
- Weill Cornell Medicine Doha, Doha P.O. Box 24811, Qatar
| | - Osric Navti
- Hamad Medical Corporation Qatar, Doha 3050, Qatar
- Weill Cornell Medicine Doha, Doha P.O. Box 24811, Qatar
| | - Albert Opoku
- Hamad Medical Corporation Qatar, Doha 3050, Qatar
- Weill Cornell Medicine Doha, Doha P.O. Box 24811, Qatar
| | - Gbemisola O. Okunoye
- Weill Cornell Medicine Doha, Doha P.O. Box 24811, Qatar
- Sidra Medicine Qatar, Doha P.O. Box 26999, Qatar
- University of Health & Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
| | - Isaac Babarinsa
- Hamad Medical Corporation Qatar, Doha 3050, Qatar
- Qatar University College of Medicine, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
| | | | - Abdulmalik Bako
- Hamad Medical Corporation Qatar, Doha 3050, Qatar
- Weill Cornell Medicine Doha, Doha P.O. Box 24811, Qatar
- Qatar University College of Medicine, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
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Siafaka V, Tsonis O, Christogiannis C, Kontouli KM, Margariti K, Barbalia Z, Flindris S, Manifava E, Paschopoulou KI, Tzioras S, Baltogianni M, Mavridis D, Paschopoulos M. Psychometric properties of the Greek versions of the Pandemic-Related Pregnancy Stress Scale and the Pandemic-Related Postpartum Stress Scale and associated risk factors during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic. BJPsych Open 2023; 9:e25. [PMID: 36721918 PMCID: PMC9970181 DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2022.635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has affected perinatal mental health. Reliable tools are needed to assess perinatal stress during pandemic situations. AIMS To assess the psychometric properties of the Greek versions of the Pandemic-Related Pregnancy Stress Scale (PREPS) and the Pandemic-Related Postpartum Stress Scale (PREPS-PP) and to explore the associations between women's characteristics and perinatal stress during the second pandemic wave. METHODS The PREPS and PREPS-PP were completed by 264 pregnant and 188 postpartum women, respectively, who also completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Edinburgh Perinatal Depression Scale (EPDS). RESULTS The internal consistency was similar for PREPS and PREPS-PP. It was good for preparedness stress (a = 0.77 and α = 0.71, respectively) and infection stress (α = 0.83 for both scales) but low for positive appraisal (α = 0.46 and α = 0.41, respectively). Of the pregnant women, 55.33% and 55.27%, respectively, reported scores of ≥40 on STAI-S and STAI-T, and the respective percentages for the postpartum women were 47.34% and 46.80%. In addition, 14.39% of the pregnant women and 20.74% of the postpartum women scored ≥13 on the EPDS. Higher preparedness stress on PREPS and PREPS-PP was associated with primiparity (P = 0.022 and P = 0.021, respectively) and disrupted perinatal care (P = 0.069 and P = 0.007, respectively). In postpartum women, higher infection stress was associated with chronic disease (P = 0.037), primiparity (P = 0.02) and perceived risk of infection (P = 0.065). Higher score on infection stress was associated with disrupted perinatal care in both groups (P = 0.107 and P = 0.010, respectively). CONCLUSIONS The Greek versions of PREPS and PREPS-PP are valid tools for the assessment of women at risk of perinatal stress during a health crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Orestis Tsonis
- Assisted Conception Unit, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Christos Christogiannis
- Evidence Synthesis Methods Team, Department of Primary Education, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Katerina-Maria Kontouli
- Evidence Synthesis Methods Team, Department of Primary Education, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Kalypso Margariti
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Zoe Barbalia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Stefanos Flindris
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Eleni Manifava
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | | | | | - Maria Baltogianni
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Dimitris Mavridis
- Evidence Synthesis Methods Team, Department of Primary Education, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Minas Paschopoulos
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
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Martinez-Vazquez S, Riquelme-Gallego B, Lugo-Toro LJ, Lucena-Prieto L, Garrido-Torres N, Lopez-Soto T, Caparros-Gonzalez RA, De la Torre-Luque A. Maternal Psychopathological Profile during Childbirth and Neonatal Development during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Pre-Posttest Study. Behav Sci (Basel) 2023; 13:80. [PMID: 36829309 PMCID: PMC9952727 DOI: 10.3390/bs13020080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 generated an alert that became a state of emergency in health issues worldwide, a situation that affected the entire population, including pregnant women. The present study aims to understand the effect of the psychopathological profile of a sample of pregnant women at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic on themselves during childbirth (Phase 1) and after childbirth and the anthropometric measures of the neonate at birth (Phase 2). The total sample comprises 81 pregnant women aged 32.07 years (SD = 5.45) and their neonates. Sociodemographic and obstetric data of the sample were collected. During pregnancy, psychopathology was measured by means of the SCL-90, as well as other psychological measures on stress and social support. Cluster k-means techniques were used to uncover the heterogeneous profiles of psychopathology in Phase 1. Two main psychopathological profiles were found (Cluster 1: High psychopathological symptoms; Cluster 2: Low psychopathological symptoms). The clusters generated show significant differences in all the SCL-90-R subscales used and in the general index at Phase 1. After childbirth, high psychopathology profile membership was associated with a greater probability of having a non-eutocic delivery. On the other hand, the low psychopathological symptoms cluster shows higher levels of depressive symptoms, hostility, paranoid ideation, and psychotic symptoms in Phase 2. In conclusion, there seemed to exist two heterogeneous profiles of psychopathology in pregnant women during the pandemic; the stress related to the pandemic seemed uninfluential on the development of a profile of high psychopathological symptoms and the psychopathology profile may influence delivery and postpartum outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Lidia Lucena-Prieto
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Delivery Ward, Hospital Antequera, 29200 Malaga, Spain
| | | | - Teresa Lopez-Soto
- English Language Department, University of Seville, 41004 Seville, Spain
| | - Rafael A. Caparros-Gonzalez
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.GRANADA), 18014 Granada, Spain
- Department of Nursing, The University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Alejandro De la Torre-Luque
- Department of Legal Medicine, Psychiatry and Pathology, Complutense University of Madrid, CIBERSAM ISCIII, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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Liebana-Presa C, Martínez-Fernández MC, García-Fernández R, Martín-Vázquez C, Fernández-Martínez E, Hidalgo-Lopezosa P. Self perceived health and stress in the pregnancy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1166882. [PMID: 37065878 PMCID: PMC10102544 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1166882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has had numerous maternal and neonatal consequences, especially at the mental level. Pregnant women experience a rise in anxiety symptoms and prenatal stress. Aims The aim was to describe self-perceived health status, general stress and prenatal stress and to analyze relations and associations with sociodemographic factors. Methods A quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted using non-probabilistic circumstantial sampling. The sample was recruited during the first trimester of pregnancy during the control obstetrical visit. The Google Forms platform was used. A total of 297 women participated in the study. The Prenatal Distress Questionnaire (PDQ), the Perceived Stress Score (PSS) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) were used. Results Primiparas presented higher levels of worry about childbirth and the baby (10.93 ± 4.73) than multiparous women (9.88 ± 3.96). Somatic symptoms were present in 6% of the women. Anxiety-insomnia was scored positively by 18% of the women. In the Spearman correlation analysis, statistically significant values were found between almost all study variables. A positive correlation was observed between self-perceived health and prenatal and general stress levels. Discussion During the first trimester of gestation, prenatal concerns increase when levels of anxiety, insomnia and depression also increase. There is a clear relationship between prenatal worries, anxiety, insomnia and depression with stress. Health education that focuses on mental health of pregnant women would help reduce worries during pregnancy and would improve the pregnant women perception of her health and well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Liebana-Presa
- Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, Universidad de León, León, Spain
- SALBIS Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ponferrada, Spain
| | - María Cristina Martínez-Fernández
- Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, Universidad de León, León, Spain
- SALBIS Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ponferrada, Spain
| | - Rubén García-Fernández
- Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, Universidad de León, León, Spain
- SALBIS Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ponferrada, Spain
- *Correspondence: Rubén García-Fernández,
| | | | - Elena Fernández-Martínez
- Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, Universidad de León, León, Spain
- SALBIS Reseach Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, León, Spain
| | - Pedro Hidalgo-Lopezosa
- Department of Nursing, Pharmacology and Physiotherapy, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Cordoba (IMIBIC), Córdoba, Spain
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Daugherty JC, Bueso-Izquierdo N, Lara-Cinisomo S, Lozano-Ruiz A, Caparros-Gonzalez RA. Partner relationship quality, social support and maternal stress during pregnancy and the first COVID-19 lockdown. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol 2022; 43:563-573. [PMID: 35867716 DOI: 10.1080/0167482x.2022.2101446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Pregnancy has been associated with diminished maternal mental health and a deterioration in partner relationship quality. The recent COVID-19 quarantine measures have created additional stressors for pregnant women due to isolation and a surge in partner conflict.Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess how partner relationship conflict and social support may mediate mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 lockdown.Methods: A cross-sectional study with a sample of 152 pregnant women using psychological measures, (i.e. Prenatal Distress Questionnaire, Symptom Checklist-90-R, Duke-UNC-11 Functional Social Support Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale). Demographic characteristics, obstetrics history, and partner relationship conflict were assessed using questionnaires.Results: While there were few reports of physical violence in this sample, between 18% and 59% of women reported partner relationship conflict on the psychological subscale (e.g. afraid of one's partner or screamed at by one's partner). Further, the psychological subscale was significantly associated with symptoms of psychopathology. There was a significant negative association between social support and pregnancy-specific stress (p = .005), and perceived stress (p= .038).Conclusions: These findings suggest that partner relationship conflict and social support may act as important buffers for prenatal mental health in childbearing women during vulnerable situations, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia C Daugherty
- Faculty of Education. Psychology Department, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Natalia Bueso-Izquierdo
- Faculty of Education & Psychology. Psychology & Anthropology Department, University of Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
| | | | | | - Rafael A Caparros-Gonzalez
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain
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Levinson A, Mahaffey B, Lobel M, Preis H. Development and psychometric properties of the Pandemic-Related Postpartum Stress Scale (PREPS-PP). J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol 2022; 43:426-432. [PMID: 34967691 PMCID: PMC9243190 DOI: 10.1080/0167482x.2021.2013798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Postpartum experiences have been adversely affected by the burdens of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there are no well-tested measures of pandemic-specific postpartum stress. We developed a modified, postpartum version of the Pandemic-Related Pregnancy Stress Scale (PREPS) and examined the psychometric properties of this novel measure. METHODS Online questionnaires were administered at 3-4 month intervals throughout pregnancy and postpartum to women pregnant at the start of the pandemic. This study reports psychometric properties of the Pandemic-Related Postpartum Stress Scale (PREPS-PP) among women who were administered this instrument at either of two postpartum timepoints. RESULTS At both timepoints (n = 1301 and n = 1009), CFAs revealed good model fit of the same three-factor structure identified for the prenatal PREPS (Preparedness Stress, Infection Stress, and Positive Appraisal). All PREPS-PP subscales demonstrated good reliability (α's .78-87). Higher levels of Preparedness Stress and Infection Stress were associated with greater health and financial burdens and psychological distress. CONCLUSIONS The PREPS-PP is a reliable and valid measure of postpartum stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a valuable tool for future research into how pandemic-related postpartum stress may affect families in the short- and long-term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Levinson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794 USA
| | - Brittain Mahaffey
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794 USA
| | - Marci Lobel
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794 USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794 USA
| | - Heidi Preis
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794 USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794 USA
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Lobel M, Preis H, Mahaffey B, Schaal NK, Yirmiya K, Atzil S, Reuveni I, Balestrieri M, Penengo C, Colli C, Garzitto M, Driul L, Ilska M, Brandt-Salmeri A, Kołodziej-Zaleska A, Caparros-Gonzalez RA, Castro RA, La Marca-Ghaemmaghami P, Meyerhoff H. Common model of stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms in pregnant women from seven high-income Western countries at the COVID-19 pandemic onset. Soc Sci Med 2022; 315:115499. [PMID: 36399984 PMCID: PMC9622432 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Increases in stress, anxiety, and depression among women pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic have been reported internationally. Yet rigorous comparison of the prevalence of maternal mental health problems across countries is lacking. Moreover, whether stress is a common predictor of maternal mental health during the pandemic across countries is unknown. METHODS 8148 pregnant women from Germany, Israel, Italy, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States were enrolled in the International COVID-19 Pregnancy Experiences (I-COPE) Study between April 17 and May 31, 2020. Sociodemographic characteristics, pandemic-related stress, pregnancy-specific stress, anxiety, and depression were assessed with well-validated instruments. The magnitude of stress and mood disturbances was compared across countries. A path model predicting clinically significant levels of anxiety and depression from maternal characteristics and stress was tested for all study participants and then examined separately in each country with >200 participants. RESULTS Countries differed significantly in magnitude of pandemic-related pregnancy stress and pandemic-unrelated pregnancy-specific stress, and in prevalence of clinically significant anxiety and depression levels. A well-fitting common path model for the entire sample indicated that mood and anxiety disturbances were strongly predicted by pandemic-related and pregnancy-specific stress after accounting for maternal characteristics. The model was replicated in individual countries. CONCLUSIONS Although pregnant women in high-income Western countries experienced different levels of stress resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, stress is a strong, common predictor of anxiety and depressive symptoms in these individuals. The common model can be used to inform research and clinical interventions to protect against adverse consequences of prenatal maternal stress, anxiety, and depression for mothers and infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marci Lobel
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States.
| | - Heidi Preis
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - Brittain Mahaffey
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - Nora K Schaal
- Institute of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich-Heine-University, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Karen Yirmiya
- Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Interdisciplinary Center, Herzlia, Israel
| | - Shir Atzil
- Department of Psychology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Inbal Reuveni
- Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah Medical Center, Affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Matteo Balestrieri
- Unit of Psychiatry, Department of Medicine (DAME), University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Chiara Penengo
- Unit of Psychiatry, Department of Medicine (DAME), University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Chiara Colli
- Unit of Psychiatry, Department of Medicine (DAME), University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Marco Garzitto
- Unit of Psychiatry, Department of Medicine (DAME), University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Lorenza Driul
- Obstetric-Gynecologic Clinic, Department of Medicine (DAME), University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Michalina Ilska
- Institute of Psychology, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | - Anna Brandt-Salmeri
- Institute of Psychology, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | | | - Rafael A Caparros-Gonzalez
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria Ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain
| | - Rita Amiel Castro
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Pearl La Marca-Ghaemmaghami
- Psychology Research and Counselling Institute for Sexuality, Marriage, and Family, International Academy for Human Sciences and Culture, Walenstadt, Switzerland
| | - Hannah Meyerhoff
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Simó S, Cajiao-Nieto J, Awad-Sirhan NV, Caparros-Gonzalez RA. Pregnancy-Specific Stress during the First Lockdown of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Assessing Face-to-Face versus Online Recruitment. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:14102. [PMID: 36360988 PMCID: PMC9653943 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192114102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The study aims to assess pregnancy-specific stress among pregnant women in Spain during the first lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic. Two samples of pregnant women from the south of Spain (Andalusia) were assessed using the Prenatal Distress Questionnaire (PDQ) and a sociodemographic and obstetric questionnaire. Group 1 (N = 155) was recruited face-to-face, whereas Group 2 (N = 78) was recruited online. Pregnancy-specific stress levels were significantly different in both groups. The face-to-face group (Group 1) had higher pregnancy-specific stress levels than the online group (Group 2). The online sample over-represents young adult pregnant women with high education levels and a high number of previous miscarriages. The face-to-face study seems more accessible to racially and ethnically diverse groups. The main concern among both groups was the risk of having a sick neonate. Research during the COVID-19 pandemic can benefit from using online resources to collect data to screen and identify perinatal mental health problems in a crisis environment. Nevertheless, researchers should be aware of the potential limitations this strategy can have, for example, certain groups of people may have limited access to the internet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Simó
- Department of Psychology, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Juanita Cajiao-Nieto
- Grupo Interdisciplinario de Investigación en Salud, Fundación Universitaria Cafam, Bogotá 111121, Colombia
| | | | - Rafael A. Caparros-Gonzalez
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.GRANADA), 18012 Granada, Spain
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Studniczek A, Kossakowska K. Experiencing Pregnancy during the COVID-19 Lockdown in Poland: A Cross-Sectional Study of the Mediating Effect of Resiliency on Prenatal Depression Symptoms. Behav Sci (Basel) 2022; 12:bs12100371. [PMID: 36285940 PMCID: PMC9598781 DOI: 10.3390/bs12100371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic in Poland brought uncertainty, not only to the general population but also to women preparing for childbirth, which increased the risk of mental health illnesses during this special period of life. Resilience, which refers to positive adaptation or the ability to maintain good mental health, can be a protective factor against the development of psychiatric problems such as depressive symptoms. This study aimed to assess the protective role of resilience in the relationship of such risk factors as traumatic childbirth perception and pandemic-related pregnancy stress with prenatal depressive symptoms. The study was performed at the end of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 80 pregnant women took part. A mediation analysis, an independent t-test, and a Pearson correlation analysis were conducted. The lower resilience group declared the inclusion of slightly more participants (n = 41; 51.2%); 39 women (48.8%) demonstrated a higher risk of prenatal depression. The analysis revealed a significant direct effect between pandemic-related stress and prenatal depression (βc = 0.285, SE = 0.05, t = 2.63, p < 0.05) as well as between pandemic-related stress and resilience (βa = −0.283, SE = 0.07, t = −2.61, p < 0.05) and between resilience and prenatal depression (βb = −0.585, SE = 0.07, t = −6.34, p < 0.001). After the introduction of resilience as a mediator, the strength of the relationship not only decreased, but also ceased to be statistically significant (βc′ = 0.120, SE = 0.04, t = 1.29, p = 0.19), which indicates that it was in a full mediation state (R2 = 0.39, F = 25.31, p < 0.001; Z = 2.43, p < 0.05). The results indicate that in pregnant women, a high level of resilience protects them from the effects of pandemic-related stress on perinatal depression symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Studniczek
- Expert’s Antenatal School, St. Family’s Maternity Hospital in Warsaw, 02-544 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Karolina Kossakowska
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychopathology, Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Lodz, Rodziny Scheiblerów Avenue 2, 90-128 Lodz, Poland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-426655581
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