Influence of interpersonal violence on maternal anxiety, depression, stress and parenting morale in the early postpartum: a community based pregnancy cohort study

Abstract

BackgroundResearch has shown that exposure to interpersonal violence is associated with poorer mental health outcomes. Understanding the impact of interpersonal violence on mental health in the early postpartum period has important implications for parenting, child development, and delivery of health services. The objective of the present study was to determine the impact of interpersonal violence on depression, anxiety, stress, and parenting morale in the early postpartum.MethodsWomen participating in a community-based prospective cohort study (n = 1319) completed questionnaires prior to 25 weeks gestation, between 34–36 weeks gestation, and at 4 months postpartum. Women were asked about current and past abuse at the late pregnancy data collection time point. Postpartum depression, anxiety, stress, and parenting morale were assessed at 4 months postpartum using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the Spielberger State Anxiety Index, the Cohen Perceived Stress Scale, and the Parenting Morale Index, respectively. The relationship between interpersonal violence and postpartum psychosocial health status was examined using Chi-square analysis (p < 0.05) and multivariable logistic regression.ResultsApproximately 30% of women reported one or more experience of interpersonal violence. Sixteen percent of women reported exposure to child maltreatment, 12% reported intimate partner violence, and 12% reported other abuse. Multivariable logistic regression analysis found that a history of child maltreatment had an independent effect on depression in the postpartum, while both child maltreatment and intimate partner violence were associated with low parenting morale. Interpersonal violence did not have an independent effect on anxiety or stress in the postpartum.ConclusionThe most robust relationships were seen for the influence of child maltreatment on postpartum depression and low parenting morale. By identifying women at risk for depression and low parenting morale, screening and treatment in the prenatal period could have far-reaching effects on postpartum mental health thus benefiting new mothers and their families in the long term.

Intimate Partner Violence During Pregnancy: Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes

“…32 Maternal mental health IPV during pregnancy is associated with depression, both during pregnancy 19,33,34 and in the postpartum period. [35][36][37] Indeed, women experiencing abuse during pregnancy are 2.5 times more likely to report depressive symptomatology than their nonabused counterparts. 22 Depression has been identified as the most common mental health consequence of IPV, with nearly 40% of abused women reporting depressive symptomatology.…”

Maladaptive coping mediates the influence of childhood trauma on depression and PTSD among pregnant women in South Africa

“…Unfortunately, childhood trauma occurs at high rates in South Africa – with over a third of South African women reporting a history of childhood sexual abuse (Seedat, Van Niekerk, Jewkes, Suffla, & Ratele, 2009) – and has been linked to poor health and psychological outcomes (Troeman et al, 2011). Evidence suggests that childhood trauma may independently influence perinatal mental health regardless of recent victimization (Huth-Bocks, Krause, Ahlfs-Dunn, Gallagher, & Scott, 2013; Malta, McDonald, Hegadoren, Weller, & Tough, 2012) and must be examined for its specific impact during pregnancy. For example, a history of childhood trauma may raise stressful memories or cognitions during the transition to parenthood, which in turn could increase vulnerability for depression or PTSD especially in a context already fraught with stressors such as poverty, violence, and HIV (Shisana et al, 2014; Shisana, Rice, Zungu, & Zuma, 2010).…”

Adult physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and postpartum depression, a population based, prospective study of 53,065 women in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study

“…Several studies show that women reporting lifetime abuse, recent intimate partner abuse, or child abuse are considered more prone to develop PPD than their counterparts [10, 13–16]. The combination of abuse and depression is complicated, as both stressors put women at elevated risk for health problems and adverse pregnancy outcomes [7, 17].…”