Mental health symptom changes in pregnant individuals across the COVID-19 pandemic: a prospective longitudinal study

Background Initial studies found that mental health symptoms increased in pregnant and postpartum individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Less research has focused on if these putative increases persist over time and what factors influence these changes. We examined the longitudinal change in ment...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMC pregnancy and childbirth 2022-12, Vol.22 (1), p.1-897, Article 897
Main Authors: Gimbel, Lauren A., Allshouse, Amanda A., Neff, Dylan, Silver, Robert M., Conradt, Elisabeth, Crowell, Sheila E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
(10 maximum): pregnancy
Anxiety
Coronavirus
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
Drug abuse
Emotional regulation
Emotions
Longitudinal studies
Maternal mental health
Mental depression
Mental disorders
Mental health
Pandemics
Perinatal mental health
Postpartum
Pregnancy
Questionnaires
Software
Stress
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Background Initial studies found that mental health symptoms increased in pregnant and postpartum individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Less research has focused on if these putative increases persist over time and what factors influence these changes. We examined the longitudinal change in mental health symptoms in pregnant and postpartum individuals and investigated moderation by maternal emotion dysregulation and the incidence of coronavirus. Methods Pregnant and postpartum individuals at the University of Utah were invited to join the COVID-19 and Perinatal Experiences (COPE) Study. Beginning on April 23, 2020 participants were sent a survey comprised of demographics, medical and social history, pregnancy information and self-assessments (Time 1). Participants were contacted 90 days later and invited to participate in a follow-up questionnaire (Time 2). Daily coronavirus case counts were accessed from the state of Utah and a 7-day moving average calculated. Within-subject change in mental health symptom scores, as measured by the Brief Symptom Inventory, was calculated. Linear mixed effects regression modeling adjusted for history of substance abuse and mental health disorders. Results 270 individuals responded between April 23rd, 2020 and July 15th, 2021. Mental health symptom scores improved by 1.36 points (0.7-2.0 p 
ISSN:1471-2393
1471-2393
DOI:10.1186/s12884-022-05144-6