%0 Journal Article
%T Risk and Protective Factors Associated with Depression and Anxiety among Pregnant Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic
%A Maiko Manaka
%A Miyako Tsuda
%A Moe Fujitani
%A Ai Sawada
%A Nanae Akatsuka
%A Ayako Sasaki
%J Health
%P 37-51
%@ 1949-5005
%D 2024
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/health.2024.161004
%X Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted perinatal women¡¯s mental health.
However, protective factors associated with depression among pregnant Japanese women during the
pandemic have not been reported. Purpose: The present study investigated the risk and protective factors associated with
depression and anxiety among pregnant women during
the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An online questionnaire was administered to 157 pregnant women between October 2022 and May 2023 at two general
hospitals in Japan. The Japanese versions of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9
(PHQ-9) and General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) were used to assess symptoms of
depression and anxiety. The ¦Ö2 test or Fisher¡¯s exact test and multivariate logistic regression model were used to examine
factors associated with depression and anxiety among pregnant women. Results: Overall, 47.1% and 35.7% of the pregnant women reported depressive and anxiety
symptoms, respectively. A ¡°history of mental illness¡± was a risk factor for
depression and anxiety among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additionally, unmarried status was a risk factor for anxiety among pregnant women, whereas outdoor and indoor
exercises were protective factors against depression and anxiety, respectively. Conclusions: Exercise may have protected pregnant women from depression and anxiety during
the COVID-19 pandemic. Encouraging exercise may help maintain the mental health
of pregnant women who do not have exercise restrictions.
%K Depression
%K Anxiety
%K Factors
%K Pregnancy
%K COVID-19 Pandemic
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=130586