ObjectivesThis study aimed (1) to investigate the pattern of perinatal depressive symptoms, and (2) to determine the relationships between sociodemographic characteristics, obstetric factors, antenatal morbidities, postnatal conditions, and perinatal depressive symptoms using a structural equation model (SEM).MethodA three-wave prospective longitudinal design was used for 361 women in their second trimester, third trimester, and at six weeks postpartum. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to assess the depressive symptoms.ResultsThe intensity of depressive symptoms was the highest in the second trimester among the three waves. The SEM showed that unmarried status, unplanned pregnancy, gestational diabetes, and headache were significantly associated with EPDS in the first and second waves. The EPDS in the first wave was able to predict the EPDS in the second and third waves. The SEM has satisfactorily fit with the data (chi-square/degree of freedom = 1.42, incremental fit index = 0.91, Tucker-Lewis index = 0.90, comparative fit index = 0.91, and root mean square error of approximation = 0.03).ConclusionThe findings highlight the significance of monitoring depressive symptoms in the second trimester. Findings from this study could be useful in the design of effective intervention among women with unmarried status, unplanned pregnancy, gestational diabetes, and headache in order to reduce risk of perinatal depressive symptoms.
The transition to parenthood is one of the most stressful intra-and interpersonal adjustment periods for new parents. Bidirectional associations among intergenerational relationships during the transition to parenthood have received limited attention, and the complexity of reciprocal relationships varies in accordance with living arrangements. The objectives of this study were to explore (1) the bidirectional associations between marital relationships and conflicts with in-laws during the transition to parenthood and (2) the moderation of patrilineal coresidence on the aforementioned relationships. A three-wave prospective longitudinal design was adopted for 359 married mothers. The Dyadic Adjustment Scale and Stryker Adjustment Checklist were used to assess marital relationships and conflicts with parents-in-law. Cross-lagged panel analysis was applied to examine reciprocal relationships, and multigroup analyses were employed to determine whether these relationships exhibited different patterns in accordance with the individuals' living arrangements. The two cross-lagged models revealed the presence of a bidirectional relationship between marital distress and conflicts with parents-in-law during the mid-to late pregnancy stages. Meanwhile, the multigroup analyses suggested that conflicts with parents-in-law triggered marital distress during pregnancy in the coresidence group, whereas conflicts with fathers-in-law could intensify marital distress during late pregnancy to the postpartum period in the noncoresidence group. These findings shed light on cross-lagged associations with intergenerational conflicts. Healthcare professionals need to ensure that intergenerational relationships are positive during the transition to parenthood. This study enriches our understanding of the effect of patrilineal coresidence and can guide the future development of interventions based on culturally specific multidimensional approaches.
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