Long-term influence of unintended pregnancy on psychological distress: a large sample retrospective cross-sectional study

Sasaki, Natsu; Ikeda, Mari; Nishi, Daisuke

doi:10.1007/s00737-022-01273-1

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 37 publications

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“…Available previous studies investigating short-term effects of unintended pregnancies that were carried to term on maternal mental health found mixed results. 5,6 While some studies did find that carrying an unintended pregnancy to term was associated with a risk of maternal mental health problems, 5,[7][8][9] others did not. [10][11][12] These mixed findings might first be explained by different categorizing approaches of unintended pregnancy in previous studies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carrying an unintended pregnancy to term and long-term maternal psychological distress: Findings from the Dutch prospective Amsterdam Born Children and their Development study

Beumer,

Roseboom,

Koot

et al. 2023

Womens Health (Lond Engl)

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Background: Given the estimated high rate of unintended pregnancies, it is important to investigate long-term effects on psychological distress in women carrying an unintended pregnancy to term. However, research into associations between unintended pregnancies carried to term and psychological distress postpartum is mixed, and especially, evidence on long-term associations is scarce. Objective: To examine whether carrying an unintended pregnancy to term is associated with maternal psychological distress later in life, up to 12 years postpartum. Design: This study is based on the population-based birth cohort study ‘Amsterdam Born Children and their Development’ study, which included pregnant people in 2003 ( n = 7784) and followed them up until 12 years postpartum. Methods: Unintended pregnancy was measured as a multidimensional construct, based on self-reported data around 16 weeks gestation on pregnancy mistiming, unwantedness and unhappiness. Symptoms of maternal psychological distress were assessed around 3 months, 5 years and 12 years postpartum using multiple questionnaires measuring symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. Multiple structural equation modelling models were analysed, examining the associations between dimensions of unintended pregnancy and maternal psychological distress per time point, while controlling for important co-occurring risks. Results: Pregnancy mistiming and unhappiness were significant predictors of more maternal psychological distress around 3 months postpartum. Around 5 years postpartum, only pregnancy mistiming was positively associated with maternal psychological distress. Dimensions of unintended pregnancy were no longer associated with maternal psychological distress around 12 years postpartum. Strikingly, antenatal psychological distress was a much stronger predictor of maternal psychological distress than pregnancy intention dimensions. Conclusion: Those who carried a more unintended pregnancy to term reported more symptoms of psychological distress at 3 months and 5 years postpartum. People carrying an unintended pregnancy to term may benefit from extra support, not because of the pregnancy intentions per se, but because they may be related to antenatal psychological distress.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carrying an unintended pregnancy to term and long-term maternal psychological distress: Findings from the Dutch prospective Amsterdam Born Children and their Development study

Beumer,

Roseboom,

Koot

et al. 2023

Womens Health (Lond Engl)

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Association between adverse childhood experience and unintended pregnancy among Japanese women: a large-scale cross-sectional study

Kanamori,

Miyamoto,

Sawada

et al. 2023

Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology

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Sequencing of Births by Wantedness: Implications for Changes in Mid-Life Health Among Aging NLSY79 Women

Thomeer

Reczek

Ross

et al. 2023

The Journals of Gerontology: Series B

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Objectives As life course frameworks highlight and gerontological studies confirm, the health implications of early birth timing (e.g., adolescent births) and unplanned births (e.g., unwanted or mistimed births) extend years after those births into mid- and later-life. Yet past research often overlooks the considerable diversity in sequencing and timing of unplanned births even within the same individual (e.g., having both wanted and unwanted births), which are likely fundamental for women’s long-term health trajectories. We develop a holistic understanding of birth timing and wantedness to provide insight into when and how childbearing histories matter for aging women’s health. Methods We use Sequence Analysis (SA) with hierarchical cluster method and estimate regression models using the 1979 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY79; N=3,231) to examine how timing and patterning of births by wantedness (e.g., mistimed, unwanted) are associated with changes in physical and mental health from ages 40 to 50. Results We identify seven clusters of childbearing sequences. Of those seven clusters, respondents with sequences characterized by wanted births in their 20s and 30s had the smallest declines in health in mid-life, whereas respondents with sequences with mainly unwanted births at any age or with mainly mistimed births beginning in adolescence had the greatest health declines. Adjusting for social and economic variables accounted for some, but not all, health differences across childbearing clusters. Discussion This project demonstrates the need for comprehensive life course perspectives on long-term health implications of birth wantedness and timing, recognizing diversity within and between individuals.

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Long-term influence of unintended pregnancy on psychological distress: a large sample retrospective cross-sectional study

Cited by 3 publications

References 37 publications

Carrying an unintended pregnancy to term and long-term maternal psychological distress: Findings from the Dutch prospective Amsterdam Born Children and their Development study

Carrying an unintended pregnancy to term and long-term maternal psychological distress: Findings from the Dutch prospective Amsterdam Born Children and their Development study

Association between adverse childhood experience and unintended pregnancy among Japanese women: a large-scale cross-sectional study

Sequencing of Births by Wantedness: Implications for Changes in Mid-Life Health Among Aging NLSY79 Women

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