IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v16y2019i16p2851-d256304.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

What If Pregnancy Is Not Seventh Heaven? The Influence of Specific Life Events during Pregnancy and Delivery on the Transition of Antenatal into Postpartum Anxiety and Depression

Author

Listed:
  • Judith Aris-Meijer

    (Department of Epidemiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands)

  • Claudi Bockting

    (Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Groningen, 3584 CS Groningen, The Netherlands
    Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Utrecht University, 3512 JE Utrecht, The Netherlands)

  • Ronald Stolk

    (Department of Epidemiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands)

  • Tjitte Verbeek

    (Department of General Practice, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands)

  • Chantal Beijers

    (Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion Regulation, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands)

  • Mariëlle van Pampus

    (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, OLVG, 1011 BM Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

  • Huibert Burger

    (Department of General Practice, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands
    Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion Regulation, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Introduction: Postpartum symptoms of anxiety and depression are known to have a negative impact on mother and child, and major life events constitute a major risk factor for these symptoms. We aimed to investigate to what extent specific life events during pregnancy, delivery complications, unfavorable obstetric outcomes, and antenatal levels of anxiety or depression symptoms were independently associated with postpartum levels of anxiety and depression symptoms. Methods: Within a prospective population-based cohort study ( n = 3842) in The Netherlands, antenatal symptoms of anxiety or depression were measured at the end of the first trimester and at five months postpartum. Antenatal life events were assessed during the third trimester, and information on delivery and obstetric outcomes was obtained from midwives and gynecologists. Linear regression analyses were performed to quantify the associations. Results: Antenatal levels of both anxiety and depression symptoms were associated with postpartum levels of anxiety and depression symptoms. Life events related to health and sickness of self or loved ones, to the relation with the partner or conflicts with loved ones, or to work, finance, or housing problems were significantly associated with higher postpartum levels of anxiety symptoms ( p < 0.001) and depression symptoms ( p < 0.001) adjusted for antenatal levels. No statistically significant results were observed for pregnancy-related events, delivery complications, or unfavorable obstetric outcomes. Conclusions: Women with increased antenatal levels of anxiety or depression symptoms are at increased risk of elevated levels of both postpartum depression and anxiety symptoms. Experiencing life events during pregnancy that were not related to the pregnancy was associated with higher levels of anxiety and depression in the postpartum period, as opposed to pregnancy-related events, delivery complications, or unfavorable obstetric outcomes. These results suggest that events during pregnancy but not related to the pregnancy and birth are a highly important predictor for postpartum mental health.

Suggested Citation

  • Judith Aris-Meijer & Claudi Bockting & Ronald Stolk & Tjitte Verbeek & Chantal Beijers & Mariëlle van Pampus & Huibert Burger, 2019. "What If Pregnancy Is Not Seventh Heaven? The Influence of Specific Life Events during Pregnancy and Delivery on the Transition of Antenatal into Postpartum Anxiety and Depression," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-11, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:16:p:2851-:d:256304
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/16/2851/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/16/2851/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Houle, Jason N., 2014. "Mental health in the foreclosure crisis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 1-8.
    2. Lobel, Marci & DeLuca, Robyn Stein, 2007. "Psychosocial sequelae of cesarean delivery: Review and analysis of their causes and implications," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 64(11), pages 2272-2284, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Laura S. Bleker & Susanne R. de Rooij & Tessa J. Roseboom, 2019. "Prenatal Psychological Stress Exposure and Neurodevelopment and Health of Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-5, September.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Vásquez-Vera, Hugo & Palència, Laia & Magna, Ingrid & Mena, Carlos & Neira, Jaime & Borrell, Carme, 2017. "The threat of home eviction and its effects on health through the equity lens: A systematic review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 199-208.
    2. Grant, Darren, 2022. "The “Quiet Revolution” and the cesarean section in the United States," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 47(C).
    3. Annika Karlström & Regina Engström‐Olofsson & Astrid Nystedt & Mats Sjöling & Ingegerd Hildingsson, 2010. "Women’s postoperative experiences before and after the introduction of spinal opioids in anaesthesia for caesarean section," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 19(9‐10), pages 1326-1334, May.
    4. Tonei, Valentina, 2019. "Mother’s mental health after childbirth: Does the delivery method matter?," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 182-196.
    5. Emily S. Taylor Poppe, 2016. "Homeowner Representation in the Foreclosure Crisis," Journal of Empirical Legal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 13(4), pages 809-836, December.
    6. Wilkinson, Lindsay R. & Schafer, Markus H. & Wilkinson, Renae, 2020. "How painful is a recession? An assessment of two future-oriented buffering mechanisms," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    7. Rosenthal, Lisa & Lobel, Marci, 2011. "Explaining racial disparities in adverse birth outcomes: Unique sources of stress for Black American women," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 72(6), pages 977-983, March.
    8. De, Prabal K. & Segura-Escano, Raul, 2021. "Drinking during downturn: New evidence from the housing market fluctuations in the United States during the Great Recession," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 43(C).
    9. Alexander C Tsai, 2015. "Home Foreclosure, Health, and Mental Health: A Systematic Review of Individual, Aggregate, and Contextual Associations," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(4), pages 1-21, April.
    10. Downing, Janelle, 2016. "The health effects of the foreclosure crisis and unaffordable housing: A systematic review and explanation of evidence," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 88-96.
    11. Shen, Menghan & Li, Linyan, 2020. "Differences in Cesarean section rates by fetal sex among Chinese women in the United States: Does Chinese culture play a role?," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 36(C).
    12. Nagle, Amanda & Samari, Goleen, 2021. "State-level structural sexism and cesarean sections in the United States," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 289(C).
    13. Boen, Courtney & Yang, Y. Claire, 2016. "The physiological impacts of wealth shocks in late life: Evidence from the Great Recession," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 221-230.
    14. Janelle Downing & Andrew Karter & Hector Rodriguez & William H Dow & Nancy Adler & Dean Schillinger & Margaret Warton & Barbara Laraia, 2016. "No Spillover Effect of the Foreclosure Crisis on Weight Change: The Diabetes Study of Northern California (DISTANCE)," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(3), pages 1-11, March.
    15. Leone, Tiziana & Padmadas, Sabu S. & Matthews, Zoë, 2008. "Community factors affecting rising caesarean section rates in developing countries: An analysis of six countries," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(8), pages 1236-1246, October.
    16. Matthew Hall & Kyle Crowder & Amy Spring, 2015. "Variations in Housing Foreclosures by Race and Place, 2005–2012," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 660(1), pages 217-237, July.
    17. Chen, Chin-Shyan & Liu, Tsai-Ching & Chen, Bradley & Lin, Chung-Liang, 2014. "The failure of financial incentive? The seemingly inexorable rise of cesarean section," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 47-51.
    18. Houle, Jason N. & Light, Michael T., 2017. "The harder they fall? Sex and race/ethnic specific suicide rates in the U.S. foreclosure crisis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 114-124.
    19. Mohammad Rifat Haider & Mohammad Masudur Rahman & Md Moinuddin & Ahmed Ehsanur Rahman & Shakil Ahmed & M Mahmud Khan, 2018. "Ever-increasing Caesarean section and its economic burden in Bangladesh," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(12), pages 1-13, December.
    20. Shawnita Sealy-Jefferson & Dawn P. Misra, 2019. "Neighborhood Tax Foreclosures, Educational Attainment, and Preterm Birth among Urban African American Women," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-13, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:16:p:2851-:d:256304. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.