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Predictors of COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Pregnancy Stress: Prenatal and Postpartum Experiences in Canada

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  • Sigourney Shaw-Churchill

    (Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada)

  • Karen P. Phillips

    (Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic and related public health and hospital restrictions directly influenced Canadian perinatal healthcare. This study aimed to evaluate predictors of pandemic-related pregnancy and postpartum stress in Canada. A sample of 398 women with Canadian pandemic pregnancy experiences completed an online cross-sectional survey between September 2021 and February 2022. Demographic factors, perinatal healthcare characteristics, and psychometric measures including Oslo Social Support Scale (OSSS-3) and Brief COPE were analyzed by independent hierarchical generalized linear models (GLM) to identify predictive variables associated with prenatal and postpartum pandemic-related pregnancy stress scales (PREPS). Respondents reported low social support, low–moderate Problem-Focused and Emotion-Focused Coping scores, with low Avoidant Coping. Middle income and canceled prenatal care appointments were associated with prenatal PREPS-Preparedness Stress, with provider satisfaction negatively associated. Avoidant Coping was positively associated with both prenatal and postpartum Preparedness Stress and Infection Stress scores, whereas Problem-Focused Coping was associated with both prenatal and postpartum Positive Appraisal. High COVID-19 rates and region of healthcare were associated with prenatal and postpartum Infection Stress. Our findings that perinatal healthcare characteristics and psychometric measures, rather than demographic characteristics, were greater predictors of pandemic-related stress reflect the broad societal disruptions that shaped Canadian pregnancy experiences in our sample of mostly high income, well-educated, non-racialized women.

Suggested Citation

  • Sigourney Shaw-Churchill & Karen P. Phillips, 2025. "Predictors of COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Pregnancy Stress: Prenatal and Postpartum Experiences in Canada," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(8), pages 1-20, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:22:y:2025:i:8:p:1302-:d:1728313
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sigourney Shaw-Churchill & Karen P. Phillips, 2025. "Pandemic Pregnancy Experiences and Risk Mitigation Behaviors: COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake in Canada," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(3), pages 1-14, March.
    2. Michalina Ilska & Anna Kołodziej-Zaleska & Anna Brandt-Salmeri & Heidi Preis & Marci Lobel, 2021. "Pandemic Stress and Its Correlates among Pregnant Women during the Second Wave of COVID-19 in Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-11, October.
    3. Andrea Doucet & Sophie Mathieu & Lindsey Mckay, 2020. "Reconceptualizing Parental Leave Benefits in COVID-19 Canada: From Employment Policy to Care and Social Protection Policy," Canadian Public Policy, University of Toronto Press, vol. 46(S3), pages 272-286, October.
    4. repec:plo:pone00:0194906 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Tracey L. O’Sullivan & Karen P. Phillips, 2019. "From SARS to pandemic influenza: the framing of high-risk populations," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 98(1), pages 103-117, August.
    6. Anick Bérard & Jessica Gorgui & Vanina Tchuente & Anaïs Lacasse & Yessica-Haydee Gomez & Sylvana Côté & Suzanne King & Flory Muanda & Yves Mufike & Isabelle Boucoiran & Anne Monique Nuyt & Caroline Qu, 2022. "The COVID-19 Pandemic Impacted Maternal Mental Health Differently Depending on Pregnancy Status and Trimester of Gestation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-19, March.
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