COVID-19 and mental health during pregnancy: The importance of cognitive appraisal and social support

Khoury, Jennifer E.; Atkinson, Leslie; Bennett, Teresa; Jack, Susan M.; González, Andrea

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2021.01.027

Cited by 143 publications

(179 citation statements)

References 68 publications

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“…For example, ways of relieving stress and seeking emotional support, such as physical activity, attending counselling or support groups, and face-to-face contact with loved ones, have been altered during the pandemic. Indeed, a portion of the present sample was unable to access message therapy and counselling services, although the majority continued to have prenatal services (albeit remotely) (see Khoury et al 2021 ). Related research shows that self-care activities, including exercise and mediation (Davenport et al 2020 ; Deng et al 2020 ), as well as social support and access to support groups (Dib et al 2020 ; Khoury et al 2021 ) are associated with better mental health outcomes for pregnant women during COVID-19.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…Indeed, a portion of the present sample was unable to access message therapy and counselling services, although the majority continued to have prenatal services (albeit remotely) (see Khoury et al 2021 ). Related research shows that self-care activities, including exercise and mediation (Davenport et al 2020 ; Deng et al 2020 ), as well as social support and access to support groups (Dib et al 2020 ; Khoury et al 2021 ) are associated with better mental health outcomes for pregnant women during COVID-19. Finding new ways of effectively coping during the pandemic is essential to positive mental health outcomes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

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Coping strategies mediate the associations between COVID-19 experiences and mental health outcomes in pregnancy

Khoury

Atkinson

Bennett

et al. 2021

Arch Womens Ment Health

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The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in elevated mental health problems for pregnant women. Effective coping strategies likely reduce the impact of COVID-19 on mental health. This study aimed to (1) understand how COVID-19 stressors are related to different coping strategies and (2) identify whether coping strategies act as mechanisms accounting for the associations between COVID-19 stressful experiences and mental health problems in pregnancy. Participants were 304 pregnant women from Ontario, Canada. Depression, anxiety, insomnia, and perceived stress were assessed using validated measures. COVID-related stressors (i.e., financial difficulties, social isolation), subjective negative impact of COVID-19, and coping strategies used in response to COVID-19 were assessed by questionnaires. Results indicated that the subjective negative impact of COVID-19 was associated with more dysfunctional coping and less emotion-focused coping, whereas specific COVID-19 stressors, namely financial difficulties and social isolation, were associated with more dysfunctional coping and problem-focused coping. Dysfunctional coping was linked to elevated mental health problems and emotion-focused coping was linked to less mental health problems. Dysfunctional coping and emotion-focused coping partially mediated the effects of specific COVID-19 stressors on mental health outcomes. Findings indicate that coping is one pathway through which the COVID-19 pandemic impacts mental health in pregnancy. Supports and interventions for pregnant women during the pandemic should focus on bolstering coping skills, in order to minimize the mental health consequences of COVID-19.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Coping strategies mediate the associations between COVID-19 experiences and mental health outcomes in pregnancy

Khoury

Atkinson

Bennett

et al. 2021

Arch Womens Ment Health

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The levels of anxiety and depression symptoms were evaluated by the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS). The tool contains 14 items (7 items for each) and scored on Likert scale of 0-3 points to give a maximum of 21 points for each sub-scale 17 and it specifies the severity of anxiety and depressive symptoms as normal (0-7), borderline (8-10) and abnormal/case (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21). 32 The tool was validated in Ethiopia 32 and in this study, the values of Cronbach's alpha were 0.83 and 0.70 for anxiety and depression sub-scale, respectively.…”

Section: Data Collection Instruments and Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…18 On the top of direct effects, pandemic-related relationship issues and financial difficulties have contributed to raised mental health and psychological problems. 19 In line with this, lockdown and quarantine policies such as social isolation have driven the disturbances of mental wellbeing. 20 Beyond psychological distress and mental health instabilities, the unexpected COVID-19 outbreak has brought feelings of insecurity and fear globally.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Psychological Distress Among Ethiopian Pregnant Women During COVID-19: Negative Correlation with Self-Efficacy

Dule¹

2021

PRBM

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Background: Since the onset of coronavirus disease 2019, the mental health of individuals has been negatively affected, especially among vulnerable groups. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the association of psychological distress with self-efficacy and other correlates among Ethiopian pregnant women. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 384 pregnant women from August 1 to 15, 2020. Pandemic-related psychological distress was measured by the Impact of Event Scale Revised (IES-R). Hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), generalized self-efficacy scale (GSES), and fear of COVID-19 scale (FCoV-19S) were employed to examine independent variables. A consecutive sampling technique was employed and the data were analyzed by SPSS version 23.0. Categorical variables were presented in terms of frequencies and percentages; and mean with SD was employed to express continuous variables. Multiple regressions were performed; and for statistical significance, p < 0.05 and 95% CI were considered. Results: The participants had 31.3 (SD±7.7) mean age and those participants between the ages of 25-34 were dominant. The mean score of IES-R scale was 45.1 (±17.4) indicating severe psychological distress. The IES-R mean score for primiparous women was significantly higher than the mean score of multiparous women. Psychological distress has a strong positive correlation with symptoms of anxiety, depression and fear of COVID-19. In contrast, a negative relationship was found between psychological distress and participants' self-efficacy. Conclusion:The results indicate that the current pandemic has imposed severe psychological distress among pregnant women. The presence of anxiety, depressive symptoms, and pandemic-related fears were identified as positive predictors. In contrast, better self-efficacy of the pregnant women was linked to lower psychological distress. For health-care professionals, broadening the focus and collaboration among service-delivering units are important in halting undesirable outcomes of the pandemic.

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Movement through motherhood: Exploring mood, wellbeing, and prenatal emotional availability (EA) through EA‐based dance intervention

Branson Dame,

Jazz Harvey,

Aichele

et al. 2023

Infant Mental Health Journal

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Emotional availability (EA) is a construct that describes the observed emotional connection in parent‐child relationships. During pregnancy, EA is assessed only using caregiver sensitivity and nonhostility. We used the nonverbal aspects of these qualities to create a new dance/movement intervention (“EA‐Based Dance Intervention”). Given the scarcity of pregnancy interventions, we provided training to participants on how to be emotionally engaged with their unborn babies through dance/movement. The EA‐Based Dance Intervention alone comprised the first intervention arm (n = 12). A second intervention arm involved the combination of EA‐Based Dance Intervention with brief psychoeducation (n = 10). The third arm was a control group, which received only the assessments (n = 7). Measures of self‐reported symptoms of depression and anxiety, emotional expressivity, flourishing, and the (newly developed) self‐reported prenatal EA were used at pre‐ and posttest. The measure of observed prenatal EA was used to compare intervention versus control at posttest only. In this pilot study, we found that participants receiving the EA‐Based Dance Intervention alone or combined with psychoeducation, self‐reported improved anxiety symptoms and self‐reported higher prenatal EA. When compared with the control group, those experiencing EA‐Based Dance Intervention reported fewer depressive symptoms from pre‐ to posttest.

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COVID-19 and mental health during pregnancy: The importance of cognitive appraisal and social support

Cited by 143 publications

References 68 publications

Coping strategies mediate the associations between COVID-19 experiences and mental health outcomes in pregnancy

Coping strategies mediate the associations between COVID-19 experiences and mental health outcomes in pregnancy

Psychological Distress Among Ethiopian Pregnant Women During COVID-19: Negative Correlation with Self-Efficacy

Movement through motherhood: Exploring mood, wellbeing, and prenatal emotional availability (EA) through EA‐based dance intervention

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