Domain-specific physical activity and sedentary behavior during pregnancy and postpartum depression risk in the French EDEN and ELFE cohorts

• Published in: Preventive medicine 2019-04, Vol.121, p.33-39
• Main Authors: van der Waerden, Judith, Nakamura, Aurelie, Pryor, Laura, Charles, Marie-Aline, El-Khoury, Fabienne, Dargent-Molina, Patricia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Cohort Studies; Depression, Postpartum - epidemiology; Depression, Postpartum - etiology; Depression, Postpartum - psychology; Domain-specific physical activity; Exercise - psychology; Female; France - epidemiology; Gynecology and obstetrics; Human health and pathology; Humans; Life Sciences; Logistic Models; Postpartum depression; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Trimester, Third; Pregnant Women - psychology; Psychiatrics and mental health; Risk Factors; Santé publique et épidémiologie; Sedentary Behavior; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0091-7435; 1096-0260
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2019.02.012

The potential beneficial effects of physical activity during pregnancy on postpartum depressive symptoms (PPD) remain inconclusive. Using data from two prospective French birth cohorts, we aimed to examine the relationship between domain-specific physical activity (including leisure-time sedentary behavior) in pregnancy and the occurrence of PPD. Participants of the ELFE cohort (n = 15,538) completed the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ), which assesses the following physical activity/sedentary behavior domains: household/caregiving, occupational, sports/exercise, transportation and leisure-time sedentary behavior during the third pregnancy trimester. In the EDEN cohort (n = 1745) women completed the Baecke Questionnaire (BQ) measuring occupational, sports/exercise, and leisure-time activity during the first trimester of pregnancy. Depressive symptoms in the first postpartum year were measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale in both cohorts. Associations of physical activity/sedentary behavior with PPD symptoms were determined by logistic regression analysis, with adjustment on potential confounding factors. In the adjusted models, higher levels of household/caregiving activities (OR = 1.10 (95% CI 1.01–1.19)) and leisure-time sedentary behavior (OR = 1.16 (95% CI 1.06–1.23)), in the third pregnancy trimester were associated with an increased odds of PPD. No significant associations were found for physical activity domains during the first pregnancy trimester. Higher levels of household and caregiving activities and leisure-time sedentary behavior in the last trimester of pregnancy appear to increase the likelihood of postpartum depression. Purpose and context should be taken into account when encouraging physical activity as a strategy to help prevent postpartum mental health problems from pregnancy onwards. Reducing sedentary behavior could be a complementary strategy. •Domain-specific physical activity in pregnancy might impact postpartum depression.•No association between 1st trimester domain-specific physical activity and PPD•Higher levels of Household/caregiving activities in 3rd trimester increased PPD risk•More time spent in sedentary behaviors increased the likelihood of PPD