COVID-19 linked to increased maternal depression and anxiety

A recent longitudinal observational study showed an increase in prevalence of maternal depression and anxiety among mothers in a Canadian cohort during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, between May 2020 and July 2020, compared with pre-pandemic estimates between April 2012 and October 2019.

“The changes in prevalence of maternal depression and anxiety were primarily driven by the financial impact of the pandemic and challenges balancing between child schoolwork and working from home, and lack of childcare,” said the authors. [Lancet Psychiatry 2021;doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(21)00074-2]

“Support from governments in ensuring financial security, as well as increasing job opportunities and availability of childcare will be crucial in enhancing maternal mental health, reducing the sequelae of maternal mental health issues, and enhancing child well-being,” they suggested.

In the study, data were collected from 1,333 participants who took part in the All Our Families pregnancy cohort in Canada through a self-administered COVID-19 impact survey sent via email between 20 May 2020 and 15 July 2020, using the REDCap platform. Data on demographic characteristics and self-reported symptoms of depression and anxiety were linked across those collected at 3 years, 5 years and 8 years postpartum (between April 2012 and October 2019 [ie, 3 pre-pandemic timepoints]). All participants were actively recruited from city-wide medical laboratory offices and primary care clinics, and passively recruited through posters, allowing women to volunteer for the study.

The proportions of women with clinically significant depression symptoms (as assessed by the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale) and anxiety symptoms (as assessed by the short form of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) were found to be the highest at the time of the COVID-19 impact survey compared with the 3 pre-pandemic timepoints (depression, 35.21 percent vs 14.08 percent vs 16.58 percent vs 19.01 percent) (anxiety, 31.39 percent vs 12.01 percent vs 12.01 percent vs 18.28 percent).

Likewise, mean depression and anxiety scores were the highest at the COVID-19 impact survey timepoint compared with the 3-year, 5-year and 8-year pre-pandemic timepoints (mean depression score, 8.31 vs 5.05 vs 5.43 vs 5.79) (mean anxiety score, 11.90 vs 9.51 vs 9.49 vs 10.26).

Larger increases in depression and anxiety symptoms were observed in women with vs without family employment disruption (mean depression score, 8.59 vs 7.52) (mean anxiety score, 12.17 vs 11.35), in those with vs without difficulty balancing home schooling with work and other responsibilities (mean depression score, 8.96 vs 5.89) (mean anxiety score, 12.35 vs 10.05), and in those with vs without difficulty obtaining childcare (mean depression score, 9.65 vs 7.79) (mean anxiety score, 13.04 vs 11.47).