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Distress levels in pregnant and matched non‐pregnant women
Author(s) -
Barber Carol Cornsweet,
Steadman Jessica
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.734
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1479-828X
pISSN - 0004-8666
DOI - 10.1111/ajo.12712
Subject(s) - distress , anxiety , depression (economics) , pregnancy , medicine , edinburgh postnatal depression scale , clinical psychology , psychological distress , obstetrics , psychology , psychiatry , depressive symptoms , genetics , biology , economics , macroeconomics
This study examined self‐rated symptoms of distress (Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale—DASS‐21 and Perceived Stress Scale—PSS‐4) among 93 pregnant women and a comparison group of 93 non‐pregnant women matched on age and educational attainment. There were no significant differences between the groups, either on mean levels of distress or on proportions above a clinical cut‐off point. Overall, 22%, 31% and 16% of pregnant women reported experiencing at least moderate levels of depression, anxiety and stress, respectively. Implications for conceptualising distress in pregnancy and identifying and providing support for the substantial minority who are distressed are discussed.