Increased maternal mental health burden in a representative longitudinal community cohort coinciding with COVID-19 lockdown
Measures to control the COVID-19 pandemic have disrupted social networks and employment security worldwide. Longitudinal data in representative samples are required to understand the corresponding mental health impacts. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms in Australian women r...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Australian Journal of Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00049530.2021.1956286 |
| _version_ | 1797685775768223744 |
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| author | Amy Loughman James Hedley Craig A. Olsson Michael Berk Steven Moylan Richard Saffery Peter D. Sly Mimi L.K. Tang Anne-Louise Ponsonby Peter Vuillermin the BIS Investigator Group |
| author_facet | Amy Loughman James Hedley Craig A. Olsson Michael Berk Steven Moylan Richard Saffery Peter D. Sly Mimi L.K. Tang Anne-Louise Ponsonby Peter Vuillermin the BIS Investigator Group |
| author_sort | Amy Loughman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Measures to control the COVID-19 pandemic have disrupted social networks and employment security worldwide. Longitudinal data in representative samples are required to understand the corresponding mental health impacts. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms in Australian women raising young families during the first Victorian lockdown and to identify risk factors. Participants comprise 347 mothers of children aged 7 (mean age: 32·11 years [4·27]), from the Barwon Infant Study (BIS). Mothers had previously completed Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at child ages zero, two, four. Following the lock down, mothers again completed EPDS along with questions regarding current household and employment demographics. Depressive symptoms were substantially more prevalent in the lockdown sample than at any prior assessment (EPDS10+; 30·6%); and were particularly high in women with previous poor mental health. Anticipated and actual job loss were twice as common relative to previous assessment (5% to 13%, p = 0 006) and (4% to 10%, p = 0 001) and were associated with depressive symptoms. While further studies are required to confirm causal associations, these findings highlight the need to support mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the context of employment insecurity and previous mental illness. KEY POINTS What is already known about this topic: Emerging reports from convenience samples demonstrate elevated depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Maternal mental health is important for child mental health. Representative, longitudinal data are needed to further improve targeting of policy and health service delivery to prevent a post-COVID-19 mental health crisis. What this topic adds: This early report from a population-derived cohort demonstrates high rates of depression symptomatology in mothers of school aged children following the first COVID-19 lockdown. A past history of depression and current threats to employment are identified as key risk factors for adverse mental health. Our findings are consistent with concerns regarding an increase in mental health burden in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic but further studies are required to assess causality. Interventions and broader community resources to support the mental health of women of school aged children are required, and should target those with a history of depression and current threats to employment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T00:56:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-73d9591693f94649a48a0e94debff1c3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0004-9530 1742-9536 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T00:56:14Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Australian Journal of Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-73d9591693f94649a48a0e94debff1c32023-09-14T13:24:38ZengTaylor & Francis GroupAustralian Journal of Psychology0004-95301742-95362021-10-0173457858510.1080/00049530.2021.19562861956286Increased maternal mental health burden in a representative longitudinal community cohort coinciding with COVID-19 lockdownAmy Loughman0James Hedley1Craig A. Olsson2Michael Berk3Steven Moylan4Richard Saffery5Peter D. Sly6Mimi L.K. Tang7Anne-Louise Ponsonby8Peter Vuillermin9the BIS Investigator GroupDeakin UniversityRoyal Children’s Hospital MelbourneDeakin UniversityDeakin UniversityDeakin UniversityRoyal Children’s Hospital MelbourneRoyal Children’s Hospital MelbourneRoyal Children’s Hospital MelbourneRoyal Children’s Hospital MelbourneDeakin UniversityMeasures to control the COVID-19 pandemic have disrupted social networks and employment security worldwide. Longitudinal data in representative samples are required to understand the corresponding mental health impacts. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms in Australian women raising young families during the first Victorian lockdown and to identify risk factors. Participants comprise 347 mothers of children aged 7 (mean age: 32·11 years [4·27]), from the Barwon Infant Study (BIS). Mothers had previously completed Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at child ages zero, two, four. Following the lock down, mothers again completed EPDS along with questions regarding current household and employment demographics. Depressive symptoms were substantially more prevalent in the lockdown sample than at any prior assessment (EPDS10+; 30·6%); and were particularly high in women with previous poor mental health. Anticipated and actual job loss were twice as common relative to previous assessment (5% to 13%, p = 0 006) and (4% to 10%, p = 0 001) and were associated with depressive symptoms. While further studies are required to confirm causal associations, these findings highlight the need to support mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the context of employment insecurity and previous mental illness. KEY POINTS What is already known about this topic: Emerging reports from convenience samples demonstrate elevated depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Maternal mental health is important for child mental health. Representative, longitudinal data are needed to further improve targeting of policy and health service delivery to prevent a post-COVID-19 mental health crisis. What this topic adds: This early report from a population-derived cohort demonstrates high rates of depression symptomatology in mothers of school aged children following the first COVID-19 lockdown. A past history of depression and current threats to employment are identified as key risk factors for adverse mental health. Our findings are consistent with concerns regarding an increase in mental health burden in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic but further studies are required to assess causality. Interventions and broader community resources to support the mental health of women of school aged children are required, and should target those with a history of depression and current threats to employment.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00049530.2021.1956286mental healthmaternalpandemicdepressionpsychiatrymental disorders |
| spellingShingle | Amy Loughman James Hedley Craig A. Olsson Michael Berk Steven Moylan Richard Saffery Peter D. Sly Mimi L.K. Tang Anne-Louise Ponsonby Peter Vuillermin the BIS Investigator Group Increased maternal mental health burden in a representative longitudinal community cohort coinciding with COVID-19 lockdown Australian Journal of Psychology mental health maternal pandemic depression psychiatry mental disorders |
| title | Increased maternal mental health burden in a representative longitudinal community cohort coinciding with COVID-19 lockdown |
| title_full | Increased maternal mental health burden in a representative longitudinal community cohort coinciding with COVID-19 lockdown |
| title_fullStr | Increased maternal mental health burden in a representative longitudinal community cohort coinciding with COVID-19 lockdown |
| title_full_unstemmed | Increased maternal mental health burden in a representative longitudinal community cohort coinciding with COVID-19 lockdown |
| title_short | Increased maternal mental health burden in a representative longitudinal community cohort coinciding with COVID-19 lockdown |
| title_sort | increased maternal mental health burden in a representative longitudinal community cohort coinciding with covid 19 lockdown |
| topic | mental health maternal pandemic depression psychiatry mental disorders |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00049530.2021.1956286 |
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