ArticleBMC pregnancy and childbirth2022
Self-reported mental health status of pregnant women in Sweden during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional survey.
Article in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.
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12 citing papers in PubMed, 25 citations in OpenAlex.
- Impact of Adverse Pregnancy History and Demographics on Antenatal Mental Health: A Cross-Sectional Study of 897 Women.International journal of women's health · 2026Article
- Maternal stress in pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes among women living with HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic.Frontiers in reproductive health · 2026Article
- The impact of the COVID- 19 pandemic on women's mental health: empirical evidence from Vietnam.Psicologia, reflexao e critica : revista semestral do Departamento de Psicologia da UFRGS · 2025Article
- Prevalence of and relevant factors for depression and anxiety symptoms among pregnant women on the eastern seaboard of China in the post-COVID-19 era: a cross-sectional study.BMC psychiatry · 2023Article
- COVID and depression among stratified population groups: a narrative review.European journal of medical research · 2023Review
- Prevalence and risk factors of anxious and depressive symptoms in first-trimester females and their partners: a study during the pandemic era of COVID-19 in China.BMC psychiatry · 2023Article
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women's perinatal mental health and its association with personality traits: An observational study.Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica · 2023Observational
- A propensity score matching study: The prevalence of mental health problems among pregnant women at first antenatal care increased in Chongqing during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.Frontiers in public health · 2023Article
- Prevalence and associated factors of probable depression amongst pregnant and parenting young females: a comparison of adolescents and young adults in rural South Africa.Frontiers in child and adolescent psychiatry · 2023Article
- Rates of depressive and anxiety symptoms in the perinatal period during the COVID-19 pandemic: Comparisons between countries and with pre-pandemic data.Journal of affective disorders · 2022Article
- Prevalence of the risk of depression and worry in pregnant women in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Antioquia, Colombia, 2020-2021Revista colombiana de obstetricia y ginecologia · 2022Article
- Pregnant at the start of the pandemic: a content analysis of COVID-19-related posts on online pregnancy discussion boards.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2022Article
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 3 institutions in 4 countries.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to unprecedented worries and challenges for pregnant women due to social restrictions and changes in maternity care provision. We aimed to investigate the mental health impact of COVID-19 pandemic on pregnant women in Sweden and explore factors associated with poor perinatal mental health in this specific context.
methodThis was a nation-wide cross-sectional survey of pregnant women living in Sweden. Validated questionnaires were distributed through non-profit organizations´ websites and social media channels from May 2020 to February 2021. Perinatal depression, anxiety, and acute stress reaction were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and Impact Event Scale (Revised) (IES-R), respectively. Sociodemographic characteristics and self-perceived mental well-being were also obtained. Factors associated with mental health outcomes were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression model.
resultsAmong a total of 470 participants, 43.2% (n = 203) reported depression (EPDS ≥13), 25.7% (n = 121) moderate to severe anxiety (GAD-7 score ≥ 10), and 23.7% (n = 110) moderate to severe acute stress reaction (IES-R ≥ 33). 27.4% participants (n = 129) expressed concerns regarding their mental well-being during the pandemic. Pregnant mothers who had sick family members reported poorer mental health outcomes than those who did not (median [Interquartile range (IQR)] EPDS scores: 14.0 [8.75-18.0] vs 11.0 [6.25-15.0], p < .001; median (IQR) GAD7 scores: 7.0 [4.0-12.25] vs 6.0 [3.0-9.0], p = .003); median (IQR) IES-R scores: 20.0 [9.0-38.0] vs 15.0 [7.0-30.0], p = .048). Logistic regression analyses revealed that risk factors for poor mental health outcomes were having a sick family member with any illness, unemployment, and experiencing a substantially stressful life event. Having a higher educational level and a younger age during the pandemic were protective.
conclusionDepression and anxiety were highly prevalent among pregnant women in Sweden during the COVID-19 pandemic, indicating a need for professional mental health support for this vulnerable group of population. Unemployment was an associated risk factor whereas younger age and higher educational level were protective suggesting an important role of socio-economic factors in modulating the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on perinatal mental health.
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