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Gestational Weight Gain as a Predictor of Postpartum Depression: A Longitudinal Study
- Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- Due to profound physiological, psychological and social changes, pregnancy and the puerperium are considered a sensitive period for mental health issues, such as peripartum depression. Risk factors for peripartum depression are broad, including biological and psychosocial factors. Regarding the weight variables, gestational weight gain is mainly studied focusing on pregnancy outcomes, but few recent studies found a significant association with peripartum depression. Such findings have great clinical value, but research is scarce, and the results are equivocal. Therefore, this study is aimed to explore whether gestational weight gain would predict postpartum depression symptoms after accounting for known psychosocial predictors. This prospective study was conducted on 267 women that were followed from the third trimester of pregnancy until 6 to 8 weeks postpartum. The participants fulfilled the general data sheet, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), as well as one item on body image satisfaction during pregnancy, and again EPDS in postpartum. In addition, the pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and the gestational weight gain were collected from medical records. Results showed that only 35.2% of the sample had gestational weight gain within the recommended for their pre-pregnancy BMI. The hierarchical regression analysis showed that after looking at sociodemographic variables, depression, anxiety, self-esteem and body image satisfaction during pregnancy, the gestational weight gain was a significant predictor of postpartum depression symptoms. Pregnant women who had excessive weight gain were at higher risk for developing postpartum depression symptoms. These findings should help clinicians in identifying pregnant women at risk for developing postpartum depression. Therefore, clinicians should consider closely monitoring gestational weight gain and maternal mental health. In addition, individualized prevention programs and interventions that might involve dietary counselling, psychoeducation and support should be offered to women with excessive gestational weight gain to prevent postpartum depression and encourage a healthier transition to motherhood.
Details
- Language :
- English
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Accession number :
- edsair.dedup.wf.001..cc07009acbf1326f36e352ea65d55e25