title: Depression symptoms during pregnancy: Evidence from Growing Up in New Zealand.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Depression during pregnancy has significant implications for pregnancy outcomes and maternal and child health. There is a need to identify which family, physical and mental health factors are associated with depression during pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  An ethnically and socioeconomically diverse sample of 5664 pregnant women living in New Zealand completed a face-to-face interview during the third trimester. Antenatal depression (AD) symptoms were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Maternal demographic, physical and mental health, and family and relationship characteristics were measured. The association between symptoms of AD and maternal characteristics was determined using multiple logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  11.9% of the participating women had EPDS scores (13+) that indicated probable AD. When considering sociodemographic predictors of AD symptoms, we found that women from non-European ethnicities, specifically Pacific Islander, Asian and other, were more likely to suffer from AD symptoms. Greater perceived stress during pregnancy and a diagnosis of anxiety both before and during pregnancy were also associated with greater odds of having AD according to the EPDS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The women were in their third trimester of pregnancy at the interview. Therefore, we cannot discount the possibility of recall bias for questions relating to pre-pregnancy status or early-pregnancy behaviours.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AD is prevalent amongst New Zealand women. Ethnicity, perceived stress and anxiety are particularly associated with a greater likelihood of depression during pregnancy. Further attention to supporting maternal mental health status in the antenatal period is required.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. Electronic address: k.waldie@auckland.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Karen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Waldie
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Elizabeth R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Centre for Longitudinal Research - He Ara ki Mua, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: D'Souza
authors.affiliation: Centre for Longitudinal Research - He Ara ki Mua, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Underwood
authors.affiliation: Roy McKenzie Centre for the Study of Families, Victoria University, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Jan E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Pryor
authors.affiliation: Centre for Longitudinal Research - He Ara ki Mua, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Polly Atatoa
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Carr
authors.affiliation: Centre for Longitudinal Research - He Ara ki Mua, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; School of Population Health, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Cameron
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.affiliation: Centre for Longitudinal Research - He Ara ki Mua, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; School of Population Health, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Susan M B
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Morton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000523:psychology*; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Antenatal; Depression; Longitudinal; Perceived stress; Prenatal; Wellness