TITLE:
Risk and Protective Factors Associated with Depression and Anxiety among Pregnant Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic
AUTHORS:
Maiko Manaka, Miyako Tsuda, Moe Fujitani, Ai Sawada, Nanae Akatsuka, Ayako Sasaki
KEYWORDS:
Depression, Anxiety, Factors, Pregnancy, COVID-19 Pandemic
JOURNAL NAME:
Health,
Vol.16 No.1,
January
19,
2024
ABSTRACT: Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted perinatal women’s mental health.
However, protective factors associated with depression among pregnant Japanese women during the
pandemic have not been reported. Purpose: The present study investigated the risk and protective factors associated with
depression and anxiety among pregnant women during
the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An online questionnaire was administered to 157 pregnant women between October 2022 and May 2023 at two general
hospitals in Japan. The Japanese versions of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9
(PHQ-9) and General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) were used to assess symptoms of
depression and anxiety. The χ2 test or Fisher’s exact test and multivariate logistic regression model were used to examine
factors associated with depression and anxiety among pregnant women. Results: Overall, 47.1% and 35.7% of the pregnant women reported depressive and anxiety
symptoms, respectively. A “history of mental illness” was a risk factor for
depression and anxiety among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additionally, unmarried status was a risk factor for anxiety among pregnant women, whereas outdoor and indoor
exercises were protective factors against depression and anxiety, respectively. Conclusions: Exercise may have protected pregnant women from depression and anxiety during
the COVID-19 pandemic. Encouraging exercise may help maintain the mental health
of pregnant women who do not have exercise restrictions.