@article{ref1,
title="Rates of self-reported postpartum depressive symptoms in the United States before and after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic",
journal="Journal of psychiatric research",
year="2022",
author="Bajaj, Mira A. and Salimgaraev, Rodion and Zhaunova, Liudmila and Payne, Jennifer L.",
volume="151",
number="",
pages="108-112",
abstract="BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the relationship between the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in postpartum depressive symptoms (PDS) in individuals in the United States. Further analyses explored how these changes related to state-level measures of pandemic severity, economic hardship, and social isolation. <br><br>METHODS: Data were collected from users of the Flo mobile health application who completed a survey about their mood within 90 days of giving birth. Analyses assessed changes in national and state-level self-reported PDS from a pre-pandemic period (N = 159,478) to a pandemic period (N = 118,622). Linear regression determined which state-level pandemic severity or economic factors were associated with changes in PDS. <br><br>RESULTS: National rates of PDS increased from 6.5% (pre-pandemic) to 6.9% (pandemic). There was a significant increase in PDS over the course of the pandemic timeframe. Linear regressions revealed a negative association between percent change in PDS across states and COVID-19 deaths per 100 K residents as well as 2020 women's unemployment rate. There was no association between change in PDS and COVID-19 cases per 100 K residents, percent job loss, percent change in women's unemployment rate, or percentage of population staying at home. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: There was a national increase in PDS that worsened over the course of a year following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. States with a greater increase in PDS tended to show overall fewer deaths from COVID-19 and lower women's unemployment rates. Further work is needed to identify what individual-level factors may be driving these differences.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0022-3956",
doi="10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.04.011",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.04.011"
}