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Reduction in physical activity significantly increases depression and anxiety in the perinatal period: a longitudinal study based on a self-report digital assessment tool

  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Physical activity can reduce pregnancy-related complications and contributes substantially to improving maternal mental health. A reduction in activity encompassing exercise and daily household tasks throughout the course of pregnancy increases the risk of depression and anxiety. The following research examines the longitudinal interaction between exercise, general physical activity, and mental health outcomes in pregnant women.

Methods

This prospective longitudinal study was conducted at the maternity departments of two major university hospitals in Germany. Self-reported data of 597 women were digitally assessed every 4 weeks from the second trimester until birth as well as 3 and 6 months postnatally. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were assessed using the EPDS, PRAQ, and STAI and physical activity levels were measured using the PPAQ questionnaire. Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and multiple regression models were conducted.

Results

We found a significant reduction in general physical activity in the period from the 20th to 32nd gestational week. Women who reported a greater decline during pregnancy showed significantly higher depression and anxiety scores. In stratified analyses, only baseline mental health scores proved to be variables with stronger impact on postnatal depression and anxiety outcomes.

Conclusion

General physical activity and maternal mental health significantly influence each other during and after pregnancy. Both physical activity and the prevention of perinatal mental disorders should be systematically encouraged during perinatal care to prevent adverse maternal and fetal birth outcomes.

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Funding

The study was funded by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the University Hospital of Heidelberg (trial sponsor) and by grants of the DGPFG. The funders had no role in the design, analysis, the interpretation of the data, or in the preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 440, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    Kathrin Haßdenteufel, Katharina Brusniak, Katrin Lingenfelder, Lina Maria Matthies, Markus Wallwiener & Stephanie Wallwiener

  2. Institute of Medical Biometry and Informatics, University of Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    Manuel Feißt

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  1. Kathrin Haßdenteufel
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  2. Manuel Feißt
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Contributions

KH, SW, and MW contributed to the design of the study and project development. KH, LM, KB, and KL collected the data and managed the project. MF, KB, and KH conducted the data analysis. KH was responsible for the data interpretation and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. SW and MW were involved in supervising the project and editing the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Kathrin Haßdenteufel.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments. The study was approved by the Scientific Ethics Committee of the University of Heidelberg (S-158/2016).

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants in the study.

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Haßdenteufel, K., Feißt, M., Brusniak, K. et al. Reduction in physical activity significantly increases depression and anxiety in the perinatal period: a longitudinal study based on a self-report digital assessment tool. Arch Gynecol Obstet 302, 53–64 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-020-05570-x

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