Open AccessPsychosocial predictors of disappointment with delivery and puerperal depression
Author(s) -
Saisto Terhi,
SalmelaAro Katariina,
Nurmi JariErik,
Halmesmäki Erja
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0412.2001.800108.x
Subject(s) - medicine , pregnancy , disappointment , depression (economics) , anxiety , vaginal delivery , psychosocial , obstetrics , neuroticism , postpartum depression , psychiatry , personality , psychology , social psychology , genetics , macroeconomics , economics , biology
Background. To examine the extent to which personality characteristics, depression, fear and anxiety about pregnancy and delivery, and socio‐economic background, predict disappointment with delivery and the risk of puerperal depression. Methods. Two hundred and eleven women filled in questionnaires measuring personality traits, socio‐economic factors, and marital satisfaction once before and once after the 30th week of pregnancy, and 2–3 months after delivery, when obstetric data about pregnancy and delivery was also collected. Results. The women who were disappointed with their delivery or suffered from puerperal depression had been more depressed already in early pregnancy. Regression analysis showed that the strongest predictors of disappointment with delivery were labor pain (increase in R 2 =0.14, p <0.001) and emergency Cesarean (increase in R 2 =0.18, p <0.001). Puerperal depression was predicted by depression (increase in R 2 =0.16, p <0.001), and by personal traits such as general anxiety, vulnerability and neuroticism (increase in R 2 =0.32, p <0.001), both before 30 weeks of pregnancy and prior to the delivery (for depression increase in R 2 =0.05, p <0.001, and for anxiety and vulnerability increase in R 2 =0.04, p <0.01). The strongest predictors were depression at both time points before delivery (beta=0.51, p <0.001, and beta=0.39, p <0.001). Pregnancy‐ and delivery‐related anxiety prior to the delivery also predicted puerperal depression, but complications of the pregnancy and delivery did not. Conclusions. Depression in early pregnancy predicts disappointment with the delivery and is a strong predictor of puerperal depression.