Stress, coping and silver linings: How depressed perinatal women experienced the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Research on perinatal mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic has largely focused on data from community samples. This study sought to understand the experiences of pregnant and postpartum women with histories of clinically elevated symptoms of depression.

Methods

Participants included 60 perinatal women who participated in wellness intervention trials for women with antenatal depression. We used a mixed methods approach, assessing depression, anxiety, stressors and coping behaviors, along with narrative responses to questions regarding COVID-specific effects on mental health.

Results

Over three-fourths of the sample indicated a worsening of mental health during the pandemic, with 31.7% of women endorsing clinically elevated depression symptoms and 36.7%

SUBMITTER: Anderson MR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8548890 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature