TITLE:
Antenatal anxiety in the first trimester: Risk factors and effects on anxiety and depression in the third trimester and 6-week postpartum
AUTHORS:
Chui Yi Chan, Antoinette Marie Lee, Siu Keung Lam, Chin Peng Lee, Kwok Yin Leung, Yee Woen Koh, Catherine So Kum Tang
KEYWORDS:
Pregnancy; Antenatal Anxiety; Postpartum Anxiety and Depression
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Psychiatry,
Vol.3 No.3,
June
26,
2013
ABSTRACT: Objective:
Anxiety is common among pregnant women. However, research attention in the
area of reproductive mental health has mainly focused on postpartum depression
in past decades. Given adverse outcomes of antenatal anxiety, there is an urgent need to fill the research gaps. The objectives of the present study were
to determine the prevalence of antenatal anxiety symptoms and examine the risk
factors and effects of anxiety symptoms in early pregnancy on anxiety and
depressive symptoms in later pregnancy and early postpartum period. Methodology:
A prospective longitudinal design with quantitative approach was adopted. A
consecutive sample of 1470 Chinese pregnant women from hospitals in Hong Kong
was invited to participate in the study and was assessed using standardized
instruments on 3 time points including first and third trimesters of pregnancy
and 6-week postpartum. Results: The results showed that 17.7% of pregnant
women manifested anxiety symptoms in the first trimester of pregnancy. Single
mothers, younger mothers, mothers who smoked before pregnancy and mothers who
received low education level reported significantly higher levels of anxiety
symptoms in the first trimester. Unwanted pregnancy, low self esteem, low marital satisfaction and perceived low social support were significant psychosocial
risk factors for anxiety symptoms in the first trimester. Anxiety symptoms in
the first trimester were independent predictors for anxiety symptoms in the
third trimester ( QUOTE β = 0.26, t = 5.74, p