Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39133551›Full record

ArticleBirth (Berkeley, Calif.)2025

The impact of relationship factors on antenatal depression in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chloe Pekarsky, Janice Skiffington, Kathleen Chaput, Donna Slater, Lara M Leijser, Amy Metcalfe

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Birth (Berkeley, Calif.), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Chloe PekarskyDepartment of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Janice SkiffingtonDepartment of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Kathleen ChaputDepartment of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Donna SlaterDepartment of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Lara M LeijserDepartment of Pediatrics, Section of Neonatology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Amy MetcalfeDepartment of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.ORCID 0000-0003-4449-9256

Funding

Alberta Children's Hospital FoundationCalgary Health Foundation
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAntenatal depression is the most prevalent pregnancy-associated mental health disorder. Previous studies have identified several risk factors for antenatal depression, including partner support. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, many relationship dynamics changed. This study examined the extent to which relationship factors had an impact on antenatal depression in comparison with other well-researched factors in the context of the pandemic.

methodsA secondary analysis was conducted using data from the P3 Cohort in Calgary, a longitudinal cohort study based in Alberta, Canada. Pregnant people (n = 872) completed self-report questionnaires and validated scales about sociodemographic, psychological, and relationship characteristics. Antenatal depression was assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Logistic regression was used to assess the impact of reported characteristics on antenatal depression. Tests of model fit were used to examine whether the inclusion of variables related to relationship quality improved model fit after accounting for other known risk factors.

resultsOverall, 18.23% of participants experienced antenatal depression. Relationship factors including relationship unhappiness (OR = 1.98 [95% CI: 1.06-3.69]), having an upsetting partner (OR = 2.00 [95% CI: 1.17-3.40]), and having a lower quality of relationships with close friends and family (OR = 1.76 [95% CI: 1.14-2.73]) were associated with antenatal depression; however, inclusion of these relationship factors did not improve model fit after accounting for other known predictors.

conclusionOverall, relationship factors were not associated with antenatal depression during the pandemic after accounting for other known risk factors. Stress and anxiety caused by the pandemic may have overshadowed the impact of relationship factors, or relationship factors may have contributed to higher levels of stress and anxiety more generally within our sample.

Indexed as

COVID-19DepressionPregnancy ComplicationsPregnant PeopleSexual PartnersAdultAlbertaFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesPandemicsPregnancyRisk FactorsSARS-CoV-2Surveys and QuestionnairesYoung Adultantenatal depressionCOVID‐19pregnancyrelationshipsocial support

Identifiers

PMID39133551
PMCPMC11829261

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.