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Does Prenatal Physical Activity Affect the Occurrence of Postnatal Anxiety and Depression? Longitudinal Study

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  • Joanna Baran

    (Institute of Health Sciences, Medical College, University of Rzeszów, 35-310 Rzeszów, Poland
    Natural and Medical Centre for Innovative Research, 35-310 Rzeszów, Poland)

  • Katarzyna Kalandyk-Osinko

    (Institute of Medical Science, Medical College, University of Rzeszów, 35-310 Rzeszów, Poland
    Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of the Frederic Chopin Clinical Provincial Hospital No. 1 in Rzeszów, 35-055 Rzeszów, Poland
    Fortitudo Medical Center, 35-317 Rzeszów, Poland)

  • Rafał Baran

    (SOLUTION-Statistical Analysis, 35-120 Rzeszów, Poland)

Abstract

The aim of the foregoing study was to assess whether physical activity during pregnancy affects the occurrence of anxiety and depression during pregnancy, postpartum and 6 months following childbirth. This study tried to answer the following questions: How was the incidence of depression and anxiety different in the pre- and postpartum periods? What intensity level of physical activity protects against the symptoms of anxiety and depression? Does the time spent engaged in sedentary activities and MVPA affect the occurrence of depression and anxiety before and after childbirth? The study group under analysis consisted of 187 women aged 19–41 years. The research was conducted between April 2016 and November 2020. The study was divided into four stages: T0—qualification to participate in the study; T1—medical history acquisition, consisting of a short questionnaire and two long questionnaires (the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7)), as well as an assessment of 7-day physical activity using Actigraph accelerometers during the pregnancy; T2—the completion of the EPDS and GAD-7 questionnaires after the birth; T3—the completion of the EPDS and GAD-7 questionnaire 6 months after giving birth. The obtained results were statistically processed in the Statistica 13.3 software package. A significance level of p < 0.05 was assumed. The highest percentage of depression occurred immediately after the delivery, followed by 6 months after delivery, and the smallest number of women suffered from depression before the birth ( p < 0.001). The analysis of correlations of physical activity with anxiety symptoms did not show significant correlations. However, the situation is different in the case of depression symptoms. Women taking fewer steps before delivery showed a greater tendency to develop depressive symptoms before, immediately after and 6 months after the delivery ( p < 0.001). Women who were less active (took fewer steps per day, spent less time in moderate-to-vigorous physical (MVPA) activities or spent more time being sedentary) showed symptoms of depression on the EPDS scale. It appeared that those with severe anxiety symptoms had the highest sedentary time scores before the delivery ( p = 0.020). Reduced physical activity promotes the onset of postnatal depression, while being active reduces this risk. Interestingly, even light physical activity “protects” against the occurrence of depression and is better than sedentary activities. Such clear conclusions cannot be drawn in relation to anxiety symptoms. Sedentary behaviour may promote anxiety symptoms immediately after childbirth, but this study should be continued in order to confirm it during other time periods.

Suggested Citation

  • Joanna Baran & Katarzyna Kalandyk-Osinko & Rafał Baran, 2022. "Does Prenatal Physical Activity Affect the Occurrence of Postnatal Anxiety and Depression? Longitudinal Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-12, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:4:p:2284-:d:751578
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Shana Ginar da Silva & Kelly R Evenson & Ulf Ekelund & Inácio Crochemore Mohsam da Silva & Marlos Rodrigues Domingues & Bruna Gonçalves Cordeiro da Silva & Márcio de Almeida Mendes & Gloria Isabel Niñ, 2019. "How many days are needed to estimate wrist-worn accelerometry-assessed physical activity during the second trimester in pregnancy?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(6), pages 1-12, June.
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    5. Sumaira Kayani & Tayyaba Kiyani & Saima Kayani & Tony Morris & Michele Biasutti & Jin Wang, 2021. "Physical Activity and Anxiety of Chinese University Students: Mediation of Self-System," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-13, April.
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    1. Guoyan Xiong & Caixia Wang & Xiujie Ma, 2023. "The Relationship between Physical Activity and Mental Depression in Older Adults during the Prevention and Control of COVID-19: A Mixed Model with Mediating and Moderating Effects," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-18, February.
    2. Daria Kołomańska-Bogucka & Natalia Pławiak & Agnieszka I. Mazur-Bialy, 2023. "The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Level of Physical Activity, Emotional State, and Health Habits of Women in Late Pregnancy and Early Puerperium," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-17, January.
    3. Gema Cabrera-Domínguez & María de la Calle & Gloria Herranz Carrillo & Santiago Ruvira & Pilar Rodríguez-Rodríguez & Silvia M. Arribas & David Ramiro-Cortijo, 2022. "Women during Lactation Reduce Their Physical Activity and Sleep Duration Compared to Pregnancy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-12, September.

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