Sleep, anxiety and depression variations and their associated characteristics during pregnancy and to the postpartum period development

Abstract

This study investigated sleep quality, anxiety and depression variations during pregnancy (second and third trimester) to one month postpartum, as well as their relationships with each time period. A survey targeted 402 women who were pregnant or one-month postpartum using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The total score of PSQI, sleep duration, and habitual sleep efficiency at one month postpartum were worse than during the second and third trimesters; however, sleep disturbance scores were better at one month postpartum. There were no significant differences in anxiety and depression. The second trimester of pregnancy was related to anxiety, The total score of PSQI, and sleep quality. Anxiety was related to the presence of complications. At one month postpartum, sleep quality was related to anxiety and disturbed sleep, whereas sleep quality and difficulty staying awake during the day were related to depression. These results suggest that understanding the characteristics of women's sleep during pregnancy and postpartum period will be helpful in predicting women's anxiety and depression.