Maternal personality, social support, and changes in depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms during pregnancy and after delivery: A prospective-longitudinal study

Abstract

Background The role of maternal personality and perceived social support for peripartum changes in psychopathological symptoms remains unresolved. Methods In a regional-epidemiological sample of 306 women, depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms were assessed three times during pregnancy and three times after delivery with the 21-item version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale. In pregnancy, the Big Five personality traits and perceived social support were assessed with the short version of the Big Five Inventory and the Social Support Questionnaire. Results Multilevel analyses revealed that depressive (b =-0.055) and stress (b =-0.047) symptoms decreased from early to late pregnancy. After delivery, anxiety symptoms were lower (two months postpartum: b =-0.193; four/ 16 months postpartum: b =-0.274), but stress symptoms were higher (two months postpartum: b = 0.468; four/ 16 months postpartum: b = 0.320) than during pregnancy. Across the peripartum period, more conscientious and more extraverted women experienced lower depressive and stress symptoms (b =-0.147 to-0.177), and more emotionally stable women experienced lower depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms (b =-0.294 to-0.415). More emotionally stable women more strongly increased in anxiety during pregnancy (b = 0.019), and more extraverted women less strongly increased in depression after delivery (b =-0.010). Moreover, peripartum depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms were lower in women with higher perceived social support (b =-0.225 to-0.308).

A Qualitative Analysis of Feelings and Experiences Associated With Perinatal Distress During the Covid-19 Pandemic

“…This research enriches understanding of the role social relationships play in supporting PMH (e.g., [6,7,38,39,[61][62][63]). At the time of data collection, lockdown restrictions in place to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 forced families into physical social isolation.…”

“…A perceived lack of social support has been repeatedly associated with increased risk of perinatal psychological disorders (e.g., [38,39]) which may, in part, explain increased rates of distressing psychological symptoms during the pandemic [6,7]. Another explanation may be rooted in the mismatch between maternal expectations and reality.…”

Dyad Model as a Caring Innovation in High Risk Pregnancy

“…Dyad is part of social support or social support that can be taken from a partner, loved ones or the environment 23 The support given to the mother during the pregnancy period will be able to increase the mother's knowledge, understanding and insight so that there is an increased understanding of the health conditions of herself and the fetus in the womb. 19 . A good understanding will be able to create thought patterns and build positive perceptions of pregnancy and their abilities.…”

Assessment of anxiety and self-esteem experienced by women during pregnancy

“…Research carried out in the Netherlands and Germany also showed that pregnant women with anxiety tend to have low selfesteem. [27][28] In relation to the above, it is noteworthy that the decreased levels of self-esteem may lead to the emergence of anxiety and thus decrease the quality of life of individuals who experience these mental changes. 29 13 | Nery NG, Ribeiro PM, Leite EPRC, Nogueira DA, Santos SVM, Terra FS Rev.…”