Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2017 Jan;22(1):81-95.
doi: 10.1177/2156587216641829. Epub 2016 Apr 12.

Perceptions, Uses of, and Interests in Complementary Health Care Approaches in Depressed Pregnant Women: The PAW Survey

Jennifer Matthews  1 , Jennifer L Huberty  2 , Jenn A Leiferman  3 , Darya McClain  2 , Linda K Larkey  2
Affiliations

Perceptions, Uses of, and Interests in Complementary Health Care Approaches in Depressed Pregnant Women: The PAW Survey

Jennifer Matthews et al. J Evid Based Complementary Altern Med. 2017 Jan.

Abstract

Depression affects up to 23% of pregnant women and is associated with adverse physical/mental health outcomes for both the mother and baby. Depressed pregnant women may be more likely to engage in unhealthy lifestyle behaviors that contribute to an increased risk for chronic disease. Little is known regarding depressed pregnant women's perceptions, uses of, and interests in complementary health approaches. Study participants (mean age 28.7 ± 6.8; n = 1032) included pregnant women ≥8 weeks gestation who responded to a survey assessing physical and mental health and wellness practices. Of those completing the survey, depressed pregnant women (n = 272) had significantly higher levels of anxiety (P < .001) and stress (P < .001) and had poorer sleep quality (P < .001), mindfulness (P < .001), and social support (P < .001) compared to nondepressed pregnant women (n = 760). A majority (84%) of depressed pregnant women would consider using a complementary health approach for weight and/or stress management during pregnancy, and more than 50% were interested in yoga.

Keywords: complementary and alternative medicine; depression; pregnancy.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

References

    1. Satyanarayana VA, Lukose A, Srinivasan K. Maternal mental health in pregnancy and child behavior. Indian J Psychiatry. 2011;53:351–361. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Yonkers K, Wisner KL, Stewart DE, et al. Depression during pregnancy: treatment recommendations. http://www.acog.org/About-ACOG/News-Room/News-Releases/2009/Depression-D.... Published August 21, 2009. Accessed March 22, 2016.
    1. Marcus SM, Heringhausen JE. Depression in childbearing women: when depression complicates pregnancy. Prim Care. 2009;36:151–165. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Vesga-Lopez O, Blanco C, Keyes K, Olfson M, Grant BF, Hasin DS. Psychiatric disorders in pregnant and postpartum women in the United States. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2008;65:805–815. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Farr SL, Bitsko RH, Hayes DK, Dietz PM. Mental health and access to services among US women of reproductive age. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2010;203:542.e1–e9. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources