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Stress and Anxiety Levels in Pregnant and Post-Partum Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

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  • Anna Stepowicz

    (Department of Perinatology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Polish Mother’s Memorial Hospital—Research Institute, 93-338 Lodz, Poland)

  • Barbara Wencka

    (Department of Perinatology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Polish Mother’s Memorial Hospital—Research Institute, 93-338 Lodz, Poland)

  • Jan Bieńkiewicz

    (Department of Operative Gynecology, Endoscopy and Gynecologic Oncology, Polish Mother’s Memorial Hospital—Research Institute, 93-338 Lodz, Poland)

  • Wojciech Horzelski

    (Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Lodz, 90-136 Lodz, Poland)

  • Mariusz Grzesiak

    (Department of Perinatology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Polish Mother’s Memorial Hospital—Research Institute, 93-338 Lodz, Poland
    Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Medical University, 90-419 Lodz, Poland)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze stress and anxiety levels experienced by pregnant and post-partum women during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to indicate the social and medical factors that could contribute to stress and anxiety. A total of 210 patients were enrolled in the study. Two well-established test-tools were applied: State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). The study revealed that the levels of stress and anxiety experienced by the surveyed patients were moderate to high. We demonstrated that women with mental treatment history, those in the first trimester of pregnancy and the ones that are single or in an informal relationship tend to experience higher levels of psychological distress and anxiety. Such factors as age, education, parity, eventful obstetric history, comorbidities, and the number of hospital stays proved to be statistically insignificant in the analysis. Our findings could be used to identify patients at greater risk of experiencing adverse mental effects and to provide them with adequate psychological support. Further multi-center studies are warranted in order to draw final conclusions.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Stepowicz & Barbara Wencka & Jan Bieńkiewicz & Wojciech Horzelski & Mariusz Grzesiak, 2020. "Stress and Anxiety Levels in Pregnant and Post-Partum Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:24:p:9450-:d:463500
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Giuseppe Forte & Francesca Favieri & Renata Tambelli & Maria Casagrande, 2020. "COVID-19 Pandemic in the Italian Population: Validation of a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Questionnaire and Prevalence of PTSD Symptomatology," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-14, June.
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    1. Ilaria Lega & Alessandra Bramante & Laura Lauria & Pietro Grussu & Valeria Dubini & Marcella Falcieri & Maria Carmen Ghiani & Antonia Giordano & Stefania Guidomei & Anna Domenica Mignuoli & Serena Par, 2022. "The Psychological Impact of COVID-19 among Women Accessing Family Care Centers during Pregnancy and the Postnatal Period in Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-15, February.
    2. Blanca Vianey Suárez-Rico & Guadalupe Estrada-Gutierrez & Maribel Sánchez-Martínez & Otilia Perichart-Perera & Carolina Rodríguez-Hernández & Carla González-Leyva & Erika Osorio-Valencia & Arturo Card, 2021. "Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety, and Perceived Stress in Postpartum Mexican Women during the COVID-19 Lockdown," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-9, April.
    3. Daniela Pereira & Brigite Wildenberg & Andreia Gaspar & Carolina Cabaços & Nuno Madeira & António Macedo & Ana Telma Pereira, 2022. "The Impact of COVID-19 on Anxious and Depressive Symptomatology in the Postpartum Period," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-13, June.
    4. Daria Kołomańska-Bogucka & Agnieszka Micek & Agnieszka I. Mazur-Bialy, 2022. "The COVID-19 Pandemic and Levels of Physical Activity in the Last Trimester, Life Satisfaction and Perceived Stress in Late Pregnancy and in the Early Puerperium," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-17, March.
    5. Sandra Simó & Juanita Cajiao-Nieto & Natalia V. Awad-Sirhan & Rafael A. Caparros-Gonzalez, 2022. "Pregnancy-Specific Stress during the First Lockdown of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Assessing Face-to-Face versus Online Recruitment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-12, October.

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