The relationship between mental disorders, quality of life, and pregnancy: findings from a nationally representative sample.
BACKGROUND
The present study examined health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and the prevalence of mental disorders in pregnant and past-year pregnant women compared to non-pregnant women.


METHODS
Data came from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Three groups of women (ages 18-44) were compared: currently pregnant (n=451), past-year pregnant (n=1061), and not pregnant (n=10,544). Past-year mood, anxiety and substance use disorders were assessed by the Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule-DSM-IV version. HRQOL was measured by the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF-12). All analyses included sociodemographics as covariates.


RESULTS
Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that pregnant women were less likely than non-pregnant women to have depression and alcohol abuse or dependence; and less likely than past-year pregnant women to have depression and mania. Past-year pregnant women were less likely than non-pregnant women to have social phobia and alcohol dependence or abuse. Multiple linear regression analyses demonstrated that pregnant and non-pregnant women had higher mental component scores than past-year pregnant women. Physical component scores were lower in pregnant women than in non-pregnant and past-year pregnant groups.


CONCLUSIONS
This was a cross-sectional survey and the causality of relationships cannot be inferred.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that pregnant women have a lower likelihood of mental disorder than both non-pregnant and past-year pregnant women.
Mota
Natalie
N
Department of Psychiatry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
Cox
Brian J
BJ
Enns
Murray W
MW
Calhoun
Laura
L
Sareen
Jitender
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult