Myrte Westerneng1, Anke B Witteveen2, J Catja Warmelink3, Evelien Spelten4, Adriaan Honig5, Paul de Cock6. 1. Department of Midwifery Science, AVAG, Amsterdam Public Health research institute, VU University Medical Centre, P.O. Box 7057, 1007 MB, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Electronic address: m.westerneng@vumc.nl. 2. Department of Midwifery Science, AVAG, Amsterdam Public Health research institute, VU University Medical Centre, P.O. Box 7057, 1007 MB, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Electronic address: a.witteveen@vumc.nl. 3. Department of Midwifery Science, AVAG, Amsterdam Public Health research institute, VU University Medical Centre, P.O. Box 7057, 1007 MB, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Electronic address: catja.warmelink@inholland.nl. 4. Department of Midwifery Science, AVAG, Amsterdam Public Health research institute, VU University Medical Centre, P.O. Box 7057, 1007 MB, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Rural Health School, Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia. Electronic address: e.spelten@latrobe.edu.au. 5. Department of Psychiatry, Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, West, P.O. Box 9243, 1006 AE Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Centre, P.O. Box 7057, 1007 MB, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Electronic address: a.honig@olvg.nl. 6. Department of Midwifery Science, AVAG, Amsterdam Public Health research institute, VU University Medical Centre, P.O. Box 7057, 1007 MB, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Electronic address: pauldc@hotmail.co.uk.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Pregnancy-specific anxiety is an important risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes. It is therefore needed to gain insight in which women are at risk for elevated levels (> 85th percentile) of pregnancy-specific anxiety. Additionally, given that unhealthy behaviour has been suggested as a possible pathway linking pregnancy-specific anxiety to adverse pregnancy outcomes, it is important to examine whether higher levels of pregnancy-specific anxiety are associated with negative health-related behaviours (smoking, alcohol use and too much weight gain). METHODS: Using a study sample of 4541 low-risk pregnant women who filled in the Pregnancy Related Anxiety Questionnaire-Revised (PRAQ-R), we first examined which socio-demographic, pregnancy-related and psychological background characteristics were significantly associated with a PRAQ-R score above the 85th percentile. Secondly, we examined the association between pregnancy-specific anxiety and self-reported health-related behaviours (smoking, alcohol use and too much weight gain) while controlling for significant background characteristics. For both research questions, backward regression analysis was applied. RESULTS: Results showed that nulliparity (OR=2.33, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.97-2.77), anxious or depressed mood (OR=3.29, 95% CI=2.74-3.94) and non-Dutch ethnicity, especially Turkish (OR=3.47, 95% CI=2.16-5.59) or Moroccan (OR=2.97, 95% CI=1.84-4.81), were most strongly associated with elevated pregnancy-specific anxiety levels. Women with higher pregnancy-specific anxiety levels were more likely to gain too much weight during pregnancy (odds ratio (OR) linear term=1.49, 95% CI=1.21-1.83), while both very low and high levels of pregnancy-specific anxiety were associated with smoking (OR linear term=0.13, 95% CI=0.04-0.45, OR quadratic term=1.81, 95% CI=1.32-2.47). No association with alcohol use was found. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our results show nulliparity, anxious or depressed mood and non-Dutch ethnicity as three major vulnerability factors for elevated levels of pregnancy-specific anxiety. Furthermore, our results show an association between pregnancy-specific anxiety and negative health-related behaviours, which is worth examining in future studies.
BACKGROUND: Pregnancy-specific anxiety is an important risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes. It is therefore needed to gain insight in which women are at risk for elevated levels (> 85th percentile) of pregnancy-specific anxiety. Additionally, given that unhealthy behaviour has been suggested as a possible pathway linking pregnancy-specific anxiety to adverse pregnancy outcomes, it is important to examine whether higher levels of pregnancy-specific anxiety are associated with negative health-related behaviours (smoking, alcohol use and too much weight gain). METHODS: Using a study sample of 4541 low-risk pregnant women who filled in the Pregnancy Related Anxiety Questionnaire-Revised (PRAQ-R), we first examined which socio-demographic, pregnancy-related and psychological background characteristics were significantly associated with a PRAQ-R score above the 85th percentile. Secondly, we examined the association between pregnancy-specific anxiety and self-reported health-related behaviours (smoking, alcohol use and too much weight gain) while controlling for significant background characteristics. For both research questions, backward regression analysis was applied. RESULTS: Results showed that nulliparity (OR=2.33, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.97-2.77), anxious or depressed mood (OR=3.29, 95% CI=2.74-3.94) and non-Dutch ethnicity, especially Turkish (OR=3.47, 95% CI=2.16-5.59) or Moroccan (OR=2.97, 95% CI=1.84-4.81), were most strongly associated with elevated pregnancy-specific anxiety levels. Women with higher pregnancy-specific anxiety levels were more likely to gain too much weight during pregnancy (odds ratio (OR) linear term=1.49, 95% CI=1.21-1.83), while both very low and high levels of pregnancy-specific anxiety were associated with smoking (OR linear term=0.13, 95% CI=0.04-0.45, OR quadratic term=1.81, 95% CI=1.32-2.47). No association with alcohol use was found. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our results show nulliparity, anxious or depressed mood and non-Dutch ethnicity as three major vulnerability factors for elevated levels of pregnancy-specific anxiety. Furthermore, our results show an association between pregnancy-specific anxiety and negative health-related behaviours, which is worth examining in future studies.
Authors: Shannon L Gillespie; Amanda M Mitchell; Jennifer M Kowalsky; Lisa M Christian Journal: Psychoneuroendocrinology Date: 2018-07-05 Impact factor: 4.905
Authors: Fiona L Challacombe; Selina Nath; Kylee Trevillion; Susan Pawlby; Louise M Howard Journal: Arch Womens Ment Health Date: 2020-12-17 Impact factor: 3.633
Authors: Ching-Fang Lee; Fur-Hsing Wen; Yvonne Hsiung; Jian-Pei Huang; Chun-Wei Chang; Hung-Hui Chen Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-06-11 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Myrte Westerneng; Ank de Jonge; Anneloes L van Baar; Anke B Witteveen; Petra Jellema; K Marieke Paarlberg; Marlies Rijnders; Henriëtte E van der Horst Journal: Birth Date: 2021-07-20 Impact factor: 3.081