TY - JOUR
T1 - COVID-19-Related worries mediate the association between attachment orientation and elevated depression levels at 21-month postpartum
AU - Orkaby, Naomi
AU - Kalfon- Hakhmigari, Maor
AU - Levy, Sigal
AU - Krissi, Haim
AU - Peled, Yoav
AU - Handelzalts, Jonathan E.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Society for Reproductive & Infant Psychology.
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Background: The study’s aims were to examine whether the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with increases in depression levels of 21 months postpartum women who were initially sampled before the pandemic and whether COVID-19-related worries mediated the association between women’s attachment orientations and this hypothesized increase. Methods: Participants comprised 185 postpartum women sampled in the maternity ward of a tertiary healthcare center in Israel followed from childbirth to 21 months postpartum in four-time points. We analyzed demographic and obstetric information and the Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR) scale at T1; changes in the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) levels at all timepoints (T1-4); and COVID-19-related worries at T4. Results: Results showed a significant increase in depression levels at T4 compared to T2 and T3, and an increase in the prevalence of women at the lower clinical EPDS threshold. COVID-19-related worries mediated the association between anxious attachment and depression (indirect effect: B =.21, p <.05, 95% CI = (.015,.47), R2=0.12). Discussion: The evident effect of COVID-19 on postpartum depression is associated with variability between people. Thus, early assessment of women's attachment orientations might provide a strategy for identifying and treating women at risk.
AB - Background: The study’s aims were to examine whether the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with increases in depression levels of 21 months postpartum women who were initially sampled before the pandemic and whether COVID-19-related worries mediated the association between women’s attachment orientations and this hypothesized increase. Methods: Participants comprised 185 postpartum women sampled in the maternity ward of a tertiary healthcare center in Israel followed from childbirth to 21 months postpartum in four-time points. We analyzed demographic and obstetric information and the Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR) scale at T1; changes in the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) levels at all timepoints (T1-4); and COVID-19-related worries at T4. Results: Results showed a significant increase in depression levels at T4 compared to T2 and T3, and an increase in the prevalence of women at the lower clinical EPDS threshold. COVID-19-related worries mediated the association between anxious attachment and depression (indirect effect: B =.21, p <.05, 95% CI = (.015,.47), R2=0.12). Discussion: The evident effect of COVID-19 on postpartum depression is associated with variability between people. Thus, early assessment of women's attachment orientations might provide a strategy for identifying and treating women at risk.
KW - COVID-19
KW - anxiety
KW - attachment orientation
KW - avoidance
KW - depression
KW - postpartum
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85139831796&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/02646838.2022.2132382
DO - 10.1080/02646838.2022.2132382
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C2 - 36210511
AN - SCOPUS:85139831796
SN - 0264-6838
VL - 42
SP - 550
EP - 562
JO - Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology
JF - Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology
IS - 3
ER -