Antenatal anxiety at the second trimester: risk factors and effects on anxiety and infant development at 6-week postpartum

Abstract

Objective: During the past decades, research attention in the area of reproductive mental health has mainly focused on postpartum depression. Anxiety, however, is also common among pregnant women and postpartum women, and it could have adverse impacts on both mothers and infants. In order to fill the research gaps, the objectives of the present study were to determine the prevalence of antenatal anxiety symptoms and examine the risk factors and effects of anxiety symptoms in mid-pregnancy on postpartum anxiety symptoms and infant development in 6-week postpartum. Methodology: A prospective longitudinal design with quantitative approach was adopted. A consecutive sample of 840 Chinese pregnant women from hospitals in Hong Kong was invited to participate in the study and was assessed using standardized instruments on 2 time points: second trimesters of pregnancy and 6-week postpartum. Results: The results showed that 15.5% of pregnant women manifested anxiety symptoms in the second trimester of pregnancy. Pregnant women who were in the lower income group reported significantly higher levels of anxiety symptoms in the second trimester. Unplanned pregnancy, low self esteem, low marital satisfaction and perceived low social support were significant psychosocial risk factors for anxiety symptoms in the second trimester. There was a trend for anxiety symptoms in the second trimester to predict postpartum anxiety ( =.46, t=7.20, p<.001). Women who had higher levels of anxiety symptoms in the second trimester were more likely to report poor infant’s health ( =.31, t=4.61, p<.01) and their infants’ behavior to be a concern (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.08-1.31, p<.01). Discussions: Greater research and clinical attention to antenatal anxiety are needed given that antenatal anxiety is a common problem and has serious impacts on both maternal well-being and infant outcome.