American Journal of Public Health
Volume 109, 2019, Pages S197-S204

Trajectories of depressive symptoms and perceived stress from pregnancy to the postnatal period among Canadian women: Impact of employment and immigration (Article)

Chow A.* , Dharma C. , Chen E. , Mandhane P.J. , Turvey S.E. , Elliott S.J. , Becker A.B. , Subbarao P. , Sears M.R. , Kozyrskyj A.L.
  • a Department of Applied Health Science, School of Public Health, Indiana University, 1025 E 7th St, Bloomington, IN 47405, United States
  • b Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
  • c Department of Psychology and the Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
  • d Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
  • e Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia and BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada
  • f Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
  • g Manitoba Institute of Child Health, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
  • h Departments of Pediatrics and Physiology, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
  • i Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
  • j Department of Applied Health Science, School of Public Health, Indiana University, 1025 E 7th St, Bloomington, IN 47405, United States

Abstract

Objectives. To identify trajectory patterns of maternal depressive symptoms and perceived stress from midpregnancy to 2 years postpartum and determine relationships with selected sociodemographic factors including income, education, immigration, and postpartum employment. Methods. Pregnant women (n = 3307) recruited from the general population in 4 regions in Canada provided 6 waves of data from pregnancy to 2 years postpartum. The study was conducted from 2009 to 2015. Results. We determined 5 trajectory groups distinguished by time and magnitude for both depressive symptoms and perceived stress. Immigrants living in Canada for more than 5 up to 10 years, but not more recent arrivals, were at higher risk for persistent stress and depression independent of income status. Being employed at 1 year postpartum was associated with a lower likelihood of postpartum depression and perceived stress, while mothers reporting work exhaustion were substantially more likely to experience persistent depression and stress. Conclusions. The study highlighted the heterogeneous nature of depressive symptoms and perceived stress. Targeting interventions toward women 5 to 10 years after immigration and those experiencing exhaustion from postpartum work may be particularly beneficial. © 2019 American Public Health Association Inc.. All rights reserved.

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Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85068915058&doi=10.2105%2fAJPH.2018.304624&partnerID=40&md5=427171be79d26f055c57b5f2942cac5f
DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2018.304624
ISSN: 00900036
Original Language: English