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Abstract
Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, new mothers and their babies
represent a particularly vulnerable group. This study investigates the
effects of the pandemic on the pregnancy and childbirth experience, as
well as on postnatal stress and depression levels.
Methods: An online survey was completed by 1964 Austrian and German mothers who gave birth during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey included the Pregnancy Distress Questionnaire (PDQ), the Childbirth Experience Questionnaire (CEQ), the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Score (EPDS), the Perceived Stress Score (PSS), and additional pregnancy- and pandemic-related questions. We compared scores with pre-pandemic literature and conducted multilinear regression models in order to investigate which factors predict childbirth experience, stress and depression scores.
Findings: There was a high prevalence of depression symptoms (42%), and the mean EPDS score of 8·71 (SD = 5·70), though below the cut-off for depression of 10, was numerically higher than pre-pandemic reports (M = 6·45, SD = 4·56). The prevalence of high stress scores was 9%, and the mean PSS score was 17·7 (SD = 6·64), which indicates moderate perceived stress and is lower than pre-pandemic reports (M = 22·27, SD = 6·25). The pandemic reduced the time spent with grandparents, as well as the help received by the mother from relatives and friends. Not receiving help was associated with higher stress and depression scores. In the multilinear regression models, the most important predictor for a negative childbirth experience was a high-risk pregnancy, while the strongest predictors for high stress and depression levels were low social support and negatively perceived pandemic repercussions on financial, social or health aspects of family life.
Interpretation: The results suggest that the pandemic had an impact on maternal mental health. While the perceived consequences due to the pandemic negatively affected the postnatal depression and stress levels, perceived social support acted as a protective factor.
Registration: The study was registered post-hoc after completion of the recruitment at ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT05487105
Methods: An online survey was completed by 1964 Austrian and German mothers who gave birth during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey included the Pregnancy Distress Questionnaire (PDQ), the Childbirth Experience Questionnaire (CEQ), the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Score (EPDS), the Perceived Stress Score (PSS), and additional pregnancy- and pandemic-related questions. We compared scores with pre-pandemic literature and conducted multilinear regression models in order to investigate which factors predict childbirth experience, stress and depression scores.
Findings: There was a high prevalence of depression symptoms (42%), and the mean EPDS score of 8·71 (SD = 5·70), though below the cut-off for depression of 10, was numerically higher than pre-pandemic reports (M = 6·45, SD = 4·56). The prevalence of high stress scores was 9%, and the mean PSS score was 17·7 (SD = 6·64), which indicates moderate perceived stress and is lower than pre-pandemic reports (M = 22·27, SD = 6·25). The pandemic reduced the time spent with grandparents, as well as the help received by the mother from relatives and friends. Not receiving help was associated with higher stress and depression scores. In the multilinear regression models, the most important predictor for a negative childbirth experience was a high-risk pregnancy, while the strongest predictors for high stress and depression levels were low social support and negatively perceived pandemic repercussions on financial, social or health aspects of family life.
Interpretation: The results suggest that the pandemic had an impact on maternal mental health. While the perceived consequences due to the pandemic negatively affected the postnatal depression and stress levels, perceived social support acted as a protective factor.
Registration: The study was registered post-hoc after completion of the recruitment at ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT05487105
Original language | English |
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Publisher | Preprints with The Lancet |
Number of pages | 24 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 27 Jan 2023 |
Keywords
- Postpartum
- perinatal
- COVID-19
- pandemic
- newborn
- infant
- mother
- parent
- depression
- stress
Fields of Science and Technology Classification 2012
- 501 Psychology
-
The Impact of Prenatal Maternal Strain on Cognition and Attachment in Infancy
Schabus, M. (Principal Investigator) & Angerer, M. (Co-Investigator)
1/10/20 → 30/09/25
Project: Research
-
Doktoratskolleg Imaging the Mind: Connectivity and Higher Cognitive Function
Schabus, M. (Principal Investigator), Wilhelm, F. (Co-Investigator), Blechert, J. (Co-Investigator), Hödlmoser, K. (Co-Investigator), Hutzler, F. (Co-Investigator), Jonas, E. (Co-Investigator), Perner, J. (Co-Investigator), Weisz, N. (Co-Investigator), Pletzer, B. A. (Co-Investigator) & Kronbichler, M. (Co-Investigator)
1/03/19 → 31/08/24
Project: Research
Research output
- 1 Article
-
Birth and early parenting during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study in the Austrian and German population
Florea, C., Preiß, J., Gruber, W. R., Angerer, M. & Schabus, M., Oct 2023, In: Comprehensive Psychiatry. 126, 152405.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access