The association of unplanned pregnancy with perinatal depression: a longitudinal cohort study
SYMPTOMS
UNINTENDED PREGNANCY
Perinatal
SECONDARY DATA-ANALYSIS
Cohort Studies
Depression, Postpartum
Unplanned pregnancy
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
Pregnancy
Risk Factors
ANXIETY
Humans
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale
POSTNATAL DEPRESSION
0501 psychology and cognitive sciences
Longitudinal Studies
Mixed models
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Depression
05 social sciences
POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION
Pregnancy, Unplanned
PREVALENCE
3. Good health
Cross-Sectional Studies
Longitudinal
RISK-FACTORS
Original Article
Female
TRAJECTORIES
MENTAL-HEALTH
DOI:
10.1007/s00737-022-01225-9
Publication Date:
2022-03-29T01:03:41Z
AUTHORS (6)
ABSTRACT
Abstract
Perinatal depression is common, affecting approximately 7–13% of women. Studies have shown an association between unplanned pregnancy and perinatal depressive symptoms, but many used a cross-sectional design and limited postnatal follow-up. The current study investigated the association of unplanned pregnancy with perinatal depressive symptoms using a longitudinal cohort study that followed women from the first trimester until 12 months postpartum. Pregnant women (N = 1928) provided demographic and clinical data and information about pregnancy intention at the first trimester. Depressive symptoms were assessed during each trimester of pregnancy and five times postpartum using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) until 12 months postpartum. Mixed model analyses were used to investigate the association between an unplanned pregnancy and the level of depressive symptoms. Women with an unplanned pregnancy (N = 111, 5.8%) reported persistently higher levels of depressive symptoms during the entire perinatal period compared to women with a planned pregnancy, after adjustment for confounders (p < 0.001). However, the course of depressive symptom scores over time in women with an unplanned pregnancy was similar to that of women with a planned pregnancy. Lower age (p = 0.006), unemployment (p = 0.004), and history of depression (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with higher levels of perinatal depressive symptoms. An unplanned pregnancy may have a long-lasting negative impact on a woman’s perinatal mental health. Therefore, women with an unplanned pregnancy may benefit from systematic follow-up during the perinatal period with contingent mental health support.
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CITATIONS (40)
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