Journal List > Korean J Women Health Nurs > v.25(1) > 1119004

Koh, Ahn, Kim, Park, and Oh: Pregnant Women's Antenatal Depression and Influencing Factors

Abstract

Purpose

The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of antenatal depression in pregnant women and its influencing factors.

Methods

With a cross-sectional survey design, a total of 396 pregnant women were recruited from a local obstetrics and gynecology clinic. Measurements included antenatal depression, perceived stress, predictors of depression during pregnancy, and demographic and obstetric characteristics.

Results

Mean antenatal depression score was 8.20 (standard deviation=4.95) out of 30, falling into its normal range. However, the prevalence of antenatal depression was 35.9% when cut-point of 9/10 was used. The prevalence of antenatal depression among women in the first trimester was 31.4%. It was slightly increased to 34.9% in the second trimester but significantly increased to 40.5% in the third trimester. In multiple logistic regression analysis, experiencing prenatal anxiety (odds ratio [OR], 4.16), having no job (OR, 2.90), lower self-esteem (OR, 1.62), and higher perceived stress (OR, 1.32) were significant factors influencing antenatal depression.

Conclusion

Negative feeling such as feeling anxious, lower self-esteem, and higher perceived stress during pregnancy are key factors affecting antenatal depression. Thus, antenatal nursing intervention focusing on pregnant women's feeling upon their job status is necessary to improve their antenatal psychological well-being.

Figures and Tables

Table 1

Differences in Antenatal Depression by Women's Characteristics (N=396)

kjwhn-25-112-i001
Variables Categories n(%) M±SD Antenatal depression χ2 (p) t (p)
Normal (n=254) Risky (n=142)
Age (year) (n=389) 20s 68 (17.4) 32.79±3.94 37 (54.4) 31 (45.6) 4.11 (.128)
30s 302 (77.6) 200 (62.2) 102 (33.8)
40s 19 (4.8) 14 (73.7) 5 (26.3)
Job No 268 (67.8) 150 (56.0) 118 (44.0) 23.63 (<.001)
Yes 127 (32.2) 103 (81.1) 24 (18.9)
Education High school 63 (15.9) 33 (52.4) 30 (47.6) 4.43 (.035)
University and above 333 (84.1) 220 (66.3) 112 (33.7)
First pregnancy No 139 (35.2) 79 (56.8) 60 (43.2) 4.85 (.028)
Yes 256 (64.8) 174 (68.0) 82 (32.0)
Gestational period (n=228) 1st trimester 35 (15.3) 24.50±9.58 24 (68.6) 11 (31.4) 1.08 (.580)
2nd trimester 109 (47.9) 71 (65.1) 38 (34.9)
3rd trimester 84 (36.8) 50 (59.5) 34 (40.5)
Marital status Married 381 (96.2) 246 (64.6) 135 (35.4) 0.80 (.374)
Not married 15 (3.8) 8 (53.3) 7 (46.7)
Marital period (year) (n=338) 3.00±2.66 3.04±2.75 2.95±2.52 −0.29 (.770)
Parity 0 280 (70.7) 0.32±0.60 0.43±0.63 1.61 (.107)
1 93 (23.5)
2 21 (5.3)
3 2 (0.5)
Physical discomfort 49.51±25.82 45.35±26.22 7.2±23.35 4.53 (<.001)
Antenatal depression ≤9 254 (64.1) 8.20±4.95 5.2±2.45 3.54±3.62 24.46 (<.001)
10 27 (6.8)
11 28 (7.1)
12 18 (4.6)
13 13 (3.3)
≥14 56 (14.1)
Perceived stress Low (≤13) 130 (20.7) 17.11±4.62 16.64±4.79 17.96±4.20 2.75 (.006)
Moderate (14–26) 261 (77.8)
Severe (≥27) 5 (1.5)
Depression predictor 6.42±5.73 4.64±4.47 9.61±6.34 8.25 (<.001)
M±SD=mean±standard deviation.
Antenatal depressions are presented as number of patients (%) or M±SD.
Table 2

Differences in Antenatal Depression by Depression Predictors during Pregnancy (N=396)

kjwhn-25-112-i002
Depression predictors Range M±SD Total Antenatal depression t (p) χ2 (p)
Normal (n=254) Risky (n=142)
Self-esteem 0–3 0.60±0.90 0.34±0.63 1.07±1.10 8.34 (<.001)
Social support total 0–16 2.52±3.62 1.67±2.91 4.02±4.26 6.45 (<.001)
Partner support 0–4 0.39±0.95 0.20±0.63 0.73±1.26 5.59 (<.001)
Family support 0–4 0.45±1.07 0.30±0.91 0.71±1.28 3.30 (<.001)
In-law support 0–4 1.03±1.51 0.74±1.33 1.54±1.66 4.90 (<.001)
Friend support 0–4 0.65±1.23 0.42±1.04 1.03±1.43 4.40 (<.001)
Marital satisfaction 0–3 0.38±0.74 0.25±0.58 0.63±0.91 4.54 (<.001)
Pregnancy intention 0–4 0.94±1.20 0.42±0.60 0.60±0.70 2.49 (.013)
Life stress 0–7 0.78±1.04 0.66±0.99 1.00±1.11 3.14 (<.001)
Marital status Married 381 (96.2) 246 (64.6) 135 (35.4) 0.80 (.374)
Not married 15 (3.8) 8 (53.3) 7 (46.7)
Prenatal depression No 123 (31.1) 110 (89.4) 13 (10.6) 49.61 (<.001)
Yes 273 (68.9) 144 (52.7) 129 (47.3)
Prenatal anxiety No 130 (33.0) 114 (87.7) 16 (12.3) 47.41 (<.001)
Yes 264 (67.0) 138 (52.3) 126 (47.7)
History of previous depression No 339 (85.6) 234 (69.0) 105 (31.0) 24.44 (<.001)
Yes 57 (14.4) 20 (35.1) 37 (64.9)
Socioeconomic status Low 42 (10.6) 16 (38.1) 26 (61.9) 13.85 (<.001)
Upper/ middle 354 (89.4) 238 (67.2) 116 (32.8)
M±SD=mean±standard deviation.
Antenatal depressions are presented as number of patients (%) or M±SD.
Table 3

Predictors of Antenatal Depression (N=396)

kjwhn-25-112-i003
Variables Block 1 Block 2 Block 3
Exp(B) 95% CI p Exp(B) 95% CI p Exp(B) 95% CI p
Level of education (1=high school graduate) 1.35 0.76–2.37 .297 0.97 0.48–1.94 .932 0.93 0.43–2.00 .854
Job (1=no) 3.18 1.89–5.34 <.001 3.21 1.74–5.92 <.001 2.90 1.48–5.40 .001
First pregnancy (1=no) 1.54 0.99–2.40 .055 1.01 0.59–1.74 .959 1.16 0.61–1.97 .759
Physical discomfort 1.00 0.99–1.01 .200 1.00 0.99–1.01 .428
Perceived stress 1.34 1.25–1.44 <.001 1.32 1.21–1.43 <.001
Self-esteem 1.62 1.13–2.21 .005
Prenatal anxiety (1=yes) 4.16 1.88–7.60 <.001
History of previous depression (1=yes) 2.02 0.80–3.91 .083
Pregnancy intention 0.94 0.61–1.43 .624
Socioeconomic status (1=low) 1.77 0.64–1.44 .225
Social support 0.94 0.43–1.97 .248
Marital satisfaction 0.86 0.15–1.29 .497
Life stress 0.87 0.44–1.84 .342
χ2 (p) 29.49 (<.001) 157.32 (<.001) 190.86 (<.001)
CI=confidence interval.

Notes

Funding This study was supported by NRF (National Research Foundation) of Korea (NRF No. 2017R1A2B4002488)

Conflict of Interest The authors declared no conflict of interest.

Author Contributions

  • Conceptualization: Ahn S.

  • Formal analysis: Koh M, Ahn S.

  • Writing - original draft: Koh M, Ahn S.

  • Writing - review & editing: Koh M, Ahn S, Kim J, Park S, Oh J.

Summary Statement

  • What is already known about this topic?

    Pregnant women's general and obstetric characteristics such as education, socioeconomic status, stress, and high-risk pregnancy are known to be related to antenatal depression.
  • What this paper adds?

    This paper reveals that pregnant women's depression rate (EPDS ≥ 10) is 35.9%. It also reveals that pregnant women's depression is associated with experiencing prenatal anxiety, having no job, lower self-esteem, and higher perceived stress.
  • Implications for practice, education and/or policy

    This study implicates that regular antenatal depression screening from early gestation period is essential and that family centered nursing intervention is needed for pregnant women, especially for those who have prenatal anxiety, having no job, lower self-esteem, and higher perceived stress.

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TOOLS
ORCID iDs

Minseon Koh
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5973-9294

Sukhee Ahn
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1694-0027

Jisoon Kim
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6823-700X

Seyeon Park
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2471-3174

Jiwon Oh
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3137-4529

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