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Alteration in the psychologic status and family environment of pregnant women before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Author(s) -
Xie Miaomiao,
Wang Xiaoyun,
Zhang Jingjing,
Wang Yi
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1002/ijgo.13575
Subject(s) - medicine , hostility , somatization , anxiety , family environment scale , pandemic , mental health , pittsburgh sleep quality index , depression (economics) , distress , psychiatry , clinical psychology , covid-19 , demography , insomnia , sleep quality , disease , macroeconomics , sociology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , economics
Abstract Objective To compare mental distress and COVID‐19‐related family environment changes among pregnant women before and during the pandemic. Methods In a survey‐based study in Lishui City, Zhejiang, China, pregnant women were recruited before (March–December, 2019; n = 2657) and during (January–August, 2020; n = 689) the COVID‐19 pandemic. They completed the Symptom Check List‐90 Revised (SCL90‐R) questionnaire and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and were asked about their families via the Family Environment Scale (FES). Results Higher SCL90‐R scores of somatization ( P = 0.003), depression ( P = 0.043), anxiety ( P = 0.041), hostility ( P = 0.009), and others ( P = 0.025) were reported by women during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Sleep disorder also occurred more frequently among pregnant women during the pandemic ( P = 0.002). Social environmental characteristics of families showed impaired family cohesion, and increased levels of conflict and independence during the pandemic (all P < 0.05). The FES score for family cohesion was negatively related with obsessive–compulsive, depression, anxiety, and hostility symptoms, whereas that for conflict was positively related with these symptoms (all P < 0.001). Conclusion The mental health, sleep, and family environment of pregnant women was impaired during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Potential protective factors including increased social support might help to mitigate long‐lasting negative consequences.