Chui Yi Chan1, Antoinette Marie Lee2, Yee Woen Koh3, Siu Keung Lam4, Chin Peng Lee4, Kwok Yin Leung4, Catherine So Kum Tang5. 1. Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; The Felizberta Lo Padilla Tong School of Social Sciences, Caritas Institute of Higher Education, Hong Kong, China. 2. Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: amlee@hku.hk. 3. Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Centre of Family and Population Research, The National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore. 4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. 5. Department of Psychology, The National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Pregnancy is a time of increasing vulnerability to the development of body dissatisfaction, anxiety, and depression. The present study aims to examine associations of body dissatisfaction with anxiety and depression at the following points: 6 months before pregnancy (retrospective report); in the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy; and up to 6 weeks postpartum. METHODS: A prospective longitudinal design with a quantitative approach was adopted. A consecutive sample of 1,371 Chinese pregnant women in Hong Kong was assessed using standardized instruments at four time points. RESULTS: A mixed-effects model with repeated measures revealed that body dissatisfaction and depression symptoms changed across different stages of pregnancy. Hierarchical multiple regressions showed that, after adjusting for the identified risk factors, body dissatisfaction before and during pregnancy were positively associated with antenatal anxiety and depression symptoms. Concurrent body dissatisfaction was positively associated with postpartum depression symptoms. LIMITATIONS: There was a high attrition rate in the follow-up assessments. Antenatal anxiety symptoms were assessed using the scale for general anxiety, which may not adequately capture the experience of anxiety among pregnant women. CONCLUSIONS: Primary healthcare practitioners should be made aware of body dissatisfaction among pregnant women in order to facilitate early intervention for anxiety and depression, because untreated psychological disturbance during pregnancy may persist into the postpartum period.
BACKGROUND: Pregnancy is a time of increasing vulnerability to the development of body dissatisfaction, anxiety, and depression. The present study aims to examine associations of body dissatisfaction with anxiety and depression at the following points: 6 months before pregnancy (retrospective report); in the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy; and up to 6 weeks postpartum. METHODS: A prospective longitudinal design with a quantitative approach was adopted. A consecutive sample of 1,371 Chinese pregnant women in Hong Kong was assessed using standardized instruments at four time points. RESULTS: A mixed-effects model with repeated measures revealed that body dissatisfaction and depression symptoms changed across different stages of pregnancy. Hierarchical multiple regressions showed that, after adjusting for the identified risk factors, body dissatisfaction before and during pregnancy were positively associated with antenatal anxiety and depression symptoms. Concurrent body dissatisfaction was positively associated with postpartum depression symptoms. LIMITATIONS: There was a high attrition rate in the follow-up assessments. Antenatal anxiety symptoms were assessed using the scale for general anxiety, which may not adequately capture the experience of anxiety among pregnant women. CONCLUSIONS: Primary healthcare practitioners should be made aware of body dissatisfaction among pregnant women in order to facilitate early intervention for anxiety and depression, because untreated psychological disturbance during pregnancy may persist into the postpartum period.
Authors: Francisco Javier Riesco-González; Irene Antúnez-Calvente; Juana María Vázquez-Lara; Luciano Rodríguez-Díaz; Rocío Palomo-Gómez; Juan Gómez-Salgado; Juan Jesús García-Iglesias; Tesifón Parrón-Carreño; Francisco Javier Fernández-Carrasco Journal: Medicina (Kaunas) Date: 2022-05-31 Impact factor: 2.948
Authors: Juliana Fernandes Filgueiras Meireles; Clara Mockdece Neves; Ana Carolina Soares Amaral; Fabiane Frota da Rocha Morgado; Maria Elisa Caputo Ferreira Journal: Front Glob Womens Health Date: 2022-03-17