Physical activity and depressive symptoms during pregnancy among Latina women: a prospective cohort study

Abstract

BackgroundLatina women are at increased risk for antenatal depressive disorders, which are common during pregnancy and are associated with elevated risk for poor maternal health and birth outcomes. Physical activity is a potential mechanism to reduce the likelihood of depressive symptoms. The purpose of the study was to assess whether total and domain-specific physical activity in early pregnancy reduced risk for elevated antenatal depressive symptoms in mid-late pregnancy in a population of Latina women at high-risk for depression.MethodsData from 820 Latina participants in the prospective cohort study Proyecto Buena Salud was examined using multivariable logistic regression. Total, moderate/vigorous, and domain-specific physical activity (household/caregiving, occupational, sports/exercise, transportation) were assessed using the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was used to assess depressive symptoms and identify women with elevated symptoms indicative of at least probable minor depression and probable major depression.ResultsA total of 25.9% of participants experienced at least probable minor depression and 19.1% probable major depression in mid-late pregnancy. After adjusting for important risk factors, no significant associations were observed between total physical activity (4th Quartile vs.1st Quartile OR = 1.02, 95% CI = 0.61, 1.71; p-trend = 0.62) or meeting exercise guidelines in pregnancy (OR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.65, 1.41) and at least probable minor depression; similarly, associations were not observed between these measures and probable major depression. There was a suggestion of increased risk of probable major depression with high levels of household/caregiving activity (4th Quartile vs 1st Quartile OR = 1.51, 95% CI = 0.93, 2.46), but this was attenuated and remained not statistically significant after adjustment. When we repeated the analysis among women who did not have elevated depressive symptoms in early pregnancy (n = 596), findings were unchanged, though a nonsignificant protective effect was observed for sport/exercise activity and probable major depression in fully adjusted analysis (OR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.30, 1.33).ConclusionAmong Latina women at high-risk for antenatal depression, early pregnancy physical activity was not associated with elevated depressive symptoms in mid-to-late pregnancy.

A study of physical activity levels of pregnant women using the Polish version of Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ-Pl)

“…The results of epidemiological studies from a number of countries have confirmed beneficial effects of physical activity during pregnancy on the mother's and child's health [1,2]. Regular physical exercises were shown to have a positive impact on cardiovascular endurance, lower the risk of excessive body weight gain [3], relieve spinal pains, and reduce depressive symptoms during pregnancy [4] and after childbirth as well as contribute to regaining proper body weight after childbirth. Increased physical activity during pregnancy is also associated with a lower risk of caesarean delivery [5], respiratory diseases, and macrosomia in newborns.…”

Factors Associated with the Leisure-Time Physical Activity (LTPA) during the First Trimester of the Pregnancy: The Cross-Sectional Study among Pregnant Women in Serbia

“…Other health benefits of PA during pregnancy include relief of the symptoms of low back pain, which is very common and affects around 60% of pregnant women [22][23][24], a decrease in the likelihood of caesarian delivery and postpartum recovery time [11,[25][26][27]. Studies have also shown that physically active pregnant women have a lower chance for the development of depression and have lower anxiety levels [28][29][30][31][32]. The studies on the influence of the in utero environment show that it has effects on infants and throughout childhood into adulthood [33], which is in accordance with developmental origins hypothesis.…”

Do lifestyle factors influence the rate of complications after amniocentesis?

“…The authors did not observe any significant associations between healthpromoting physical activity and the presence of depressive symptoms, although they assumed that physical activity might have a potential protective mechanism against depressive symptoms. 22 The best of our knowledge, no studies on the effect of physical activity on well-being were previously performed among pregnant women undergoing amniocentesis. In our study, only 26% of women referred for amniocentesis practiced sport or participated in exercise classes such as swimming, walking, mountain hiking, jogging, prenatal exercise classes, gymnastics, and dancing classes.…”