Rates of self-reported postpartum depressive symptoms in the United States before and after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
J Psychiatr Res
; 151: 108-112, 2022 07.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1799807
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
This study aimed to determine the relationship between the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in postpartum depressive symptoms (PDS) in individuals in the United States. Further analyses explored how these changes related to state-level measures of pandemic severity, economic hardship, and social isolation.METHODS:
Data were collected from users of the Flo mobile health application who completed a survey about their mood within 90 days of giving birth. Analyses assessed changes in national and state-level self-reported PDS from a pre-pandemic period (N = 159,478) to a pandemic period (N = 118,622). Linear regression determined which state-level pandemic severity or economic factors were associated with changes in PDS.RESULTS:
National rates of PDS increased from 6.5% (pre-pandemic) to 6.9% (pandemic). There was a significant increase in PDS over the course of the pandemic timeframe. Linear regressions revealed a negative association between percent change in PDS across states and COVID-19 deaths per 100 K residents as well as 2020 women's unemployment rate. There was no association between change in PDS and COVID-19 cases per 100 K residents, percent job loss, percent change in women's unemployment rate, or percentage of population staying at home.CONCLUSIONS:
There was a national increase in PDS that worsened over the course of a year following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. States with a greater increase in PDS tended to show overall fewer deaths from COVID-19 and lower women's unemployment rates. Further work is needed to identify what individual-level factors may be driving these differences.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Depression, Postpartum
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Pregnancy
Country/Region as subject:
North America
Language:
English
Journal:
J Psychiatr Res
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
J.jpsychires.2022.04.011
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS