Women’s Depressive Symptoms during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Pregnancy

Karen Yirmiya, Noa Yakirevich-Amir, Heidi Preis, Amit Lotan, Shir Atzil and Inbal Reuveni
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Karen Yirmiya: Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel
Noa Yakirevich-Amir: Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem 9103401, Israel
Heidi Preis: Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
Amit Lotan: Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem 9103401, Israel
Shir Atzil: Department of Psychology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
Inbal Reuveni: Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem 9103401, Israel

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 8, 1-13

Abstract: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has multiple ramifications for pregnant women. Untreated depression during pregnancy may have long-term effects on the mother and offspring. Therefore, delineating the effects of pregnancy on the mental health of reproductive-age women is crucial. This study aims to determine the risk for depressive symptoms in pregnant and non-pregnant women during COVID-19, and to identify its bio-psycho-social contributors. A total of 1114 pregnant and 256 non-pregnant women were recruited via social media in May 2020 to complete an online survey that included depression and anxiety questionnaires, as well as demographic, obstetric and COVID-19-related questionnaires. Pregnant women also completed the Pandemic-Related Pregnancy Stress Scale (PREPS). Pregnant women reported fewer depressive symptoms and were less concerned that they had COVID-19 than non-pregnant women. Among pregnant women, risk factors for depression included lower income, fewer children, unemployment, thinking that one has COVID-19, high-risk pregnancy, earlier gestational age, and increased pregnancy-related stress. Protective factors included increased partner support, healthy behaviors, and positive appraisal of the pregnancy. Thus, being pregnant is associated with reduced risk for depressive symptoms during the pandemic. Increased social support, engaging in health behaviors and positive appraisal may enhance resilience. Future studies of pregnant versus non-pregnant women could clarify the role of pregnancy during stressful events, and clarify aspects of susceptibility and resilience during pregnancy.

Keywords: COVID-19; pregnancy; depression; resilience; experiment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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