Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Archives of Women's Mental Health 4/2023

29-06-2023 | Anxiety | Short Communication

Changes and predictors of maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic

Authors: Nicole Racine, André Plamondon, Brae Anne McArthur, Erin Hetherington, Sheila McDonald, Sarah Edwards, Suzanne Tough, Sheri Madigan

Published in: Archives of Women's Mental Health | Issue 4/2023

Login to get access

Abstract

Longitudinal changes in maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms and predictors of symptom variation among a group of middle-to-upper income Canadian women (n = 2152) were examined prior to the pandemic (2017–2019) and at three pandemic timepoints (May–July 2020, March–April 2021, November–December 2021). Mean maternal depression and anxiety scores were elevated throughout the pandemic. Pre-pandemic depressive symptoms were associated with greater increases in depressive symptoms. Coping and relationship quality were protective factors. Supporting the development of coping strategies may mitigate mental health concerns among mothers.
Literature
go back to reference Andresen EM, Malmgren JA, Carter WB, Patrick DL (1994) Screening for depression in well older adults: evaluation of a short form of the CES-D (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale). Am J Prev Med 10(2):77–84CrossRefPubMed Andresen EM, Malmgren JA, Carter WB, Patrick DL (1994) Screening for depression in well older adults: evaluation of a short form of the CES-D (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale). Am J Prev Med 10(2):77–84CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Bayrampour H, McDonald S, Fung T, Tough S (2014) Reliability and validity of three shortened versions of the State Anxiety Inventory scale during the perinatal period. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol 35(3):101–107CrossRefPubMed Bayrampour H, McDonald S, Fung T, Tough S (2014) Reliability and validity of three shortened versions of the State Anxiety Inventory scale during the perinatal period. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol 35(3):101–107CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Bjorgvinsson T, Kertz SJ, Bigda-Peyton JS, McCoy KL, Aderka IM (2013) Psychometric properties of the CES-D-10 in a psychiatric sample. Assessment 20(4):429–436CrossRefPubMed Bjorgvinsson T, Kertz SJ, Bigda-Peyton JS, McCoy KL, Aderka IM (2013) Psychometric properties of the CES-D-10 in a psychiatric sample. Assessment 20(4):429–436CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Cohen S, Kamarck T, Mermelstein R (1983) A global measure of perceived stress. J Health Soc Behav 24(4):385–396CrossRefPubMed Cohen S, Kamarck T, Mermelstein R (1983) A global measure of perceived stress. J Health Soc Behav 24(4):385–396CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Gadermann AC, Thomson KC, Richardson CG, Gagne M, McAuliffe C, Hirani S, Jenkins E (2021) Examining the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on family mental health in Canada: findings from a national cross-sectional study. BMJ Open 11(1):e042871CrossRefPubMed Gadermann AC, Thomson KC, Richardson CG, Gagne M, McAuliffe C, Hirani S, Jenkins E (2021) Examining the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on family mental health in Canada: findings from a national cross-sectional study. BMJ Open 11(1):e042871CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Khoury JE, Atkinson L, Bennett T, Jack SM, Gonzalez A (2021) Coping strategies mediate the associations between COVID-19 experiences and mental health outcomes in pregnancy. Arch Womens Ment Health 24(6):1007–1017CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Khoury JE, Atkinson L, Bennett T, Jack SM, Gonzalez A (2021) Coping strategies mediate the associations between COVID-19 experiences and mental health outcomes in pregnancy. Arch Womens Ment Health 24(6):1007–1017CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
go back to reference Lebert-Charron A, Wendland J, Vivier-Prioul S, Boujut E, Dorard G (2022) Does perceived partner support have an impact on mothers’ mental health and parental burnout? Marriage Fam Rev 58(4):362–382CrossRef Lebert-Charron A, Wendland J, Vivier-Prioul S, Boujut E, Dorard G (2022) Does perceived partner support have an impact on mothers’ mental health and parental burnout? Marriage Fam Rev 58(4):362–382CrossRef
go back to reference Marteau TM, Bekker H (1992) The development of a six-item short-form of the state scale of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Br J Clin Psychol 31(3):301–306CrossRefPubMed Marteau TM, Bekker H (1992) The development of a six-item short-form of the state scale of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Br J Clin Psychol 31(3):301–306CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Racine N, Hetherington E, McArthur BA, McDonald S, Edwards S, Tough S, Madigan S (2021a) Maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada: a longitudinal analysis. Lancet Psychiatry 8(5):405–415CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Racine N, Hetherington E, McArthur BA, McDonald S, Edwards S, Tough S, Madigan S (2021a) Maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada: a longitudinal analysis. Lancet Psychiatry 8(5):405–415CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
go back to reference Racine N, McDonald S, Tough S, Madigan S (2021b) Mediating mechanisms for maternal mental health from pre-to during the COVID-19 pandemic: mediators of maternal mental illness during COVID-19. J Affect Disord Rep 6:100287CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Racine N, McDonald S, Tough S, Madigan S (2021b) Mediating mechanisms for maternal mental health from pre-to during the COVID-19 pandemic: mediators of maternal mental illness during COVID-19. J Affect Disord Rep 6:100287CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
go back to reference Rogers A, Obst S, Teague SJ, Rossen L, Spry EA, Macdonald JA, Sunderland M, Olsson CA, Youssef G, Hutchinson D (2020) Association between maternal perinatal depression and anxiety and child and adolescent development: a meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatr 174(11):1082–1092CrossRefPubMed Rogers A, Obst S, Teague SJ, Rossen L, Spry EA, Macdonald JA, Sunderland M, Olsson CA, Youssef G, Hutchinson D (2020) Association between maternal perinatal depression and anxiety and child and adolescent development: a meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatr 174(11):1082–1092CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Sinclair VG, Wallston KA (2004) The development and psychometric evaluation of the Brief Resilient Coping Scale. Assessment 11(1):94–101CrossRefPubMed Sinclair VG, Wallston KA (2004) The development and psychometric evaluation of the Brief Resilient Coping Scale. Assessment 11(1):94–101CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Tough SC, McDonald SW, Collisson BA, Graham SA, Kehler H, Kingston D, Benzies K (2017) Cohort profile: the all our babies pregnancy cohort (AOB). Int J Epidemiol 46(5):1389–1390kCrossRefPubMed Tough SC, McDonald SW, Collisson BA, Graham SA, Kehler H, Kingston D, Benzies K (2017) Cohort profile: the all our babies pregnancy cohort (AOB). Int J Epidemiol 46(5):1389–1390kCrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Changes and predictors of maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors
Nicole Racine
André Plamondon
Brae Anne McArthur
Erin Hetherington
Sheila McDonald
Sarah Edwards
Suzanne Tough
Sheri Madigan
Publication date
29-06-2023
Publisher
Springer Vienna
Published in
Archives of Women's Mental Health / Issue 4/2023
Print ISSN: 1434-1816
Electronic ISSN: 1435-1102
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-023-01339-8

Other articles of this Issue 4/2023

Archives of Women's Mental Health 4/2023 Go to the issue