Effects of Pregnancy on Women’s Mental Health and Wellbeing
Disciplines
Other Mental and Social Health
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Background: Women who experience pregnancy undergo numerous changes. These changes range from physical to mental and many more. However, there has been extensive research on how the woman’s body changes and develops before pregnancy, during, and even post-pregnancy, yet there is not as extensive an understanding of how the woman’s mental health is affected by pregnancy. Objective: The aim of this systematic review was to answer the question "How pregnant women perceive their mental health changed throughout pregnancy and post-partum?" Previous research was conducted on the understanding of how pregnancy affects pregnant women’s mental health and wellbeing throughout and post-pregnancy. Postpartum depression is a term prevalently heard, yet that does not explain the range of mental health changes that occur post pregnancy. Method: Search of the bibliographic databases PubMed, Proquest, CINAHL was done to analyze longitudinal studies on the effects of pregnancy on mental health published from 2015-2021. Result: Pregnancy impacts women’s mental health whilst also raising hormone levels that are associated with productivity, positive, and happiness. Conclusion: Greater understanding of what is occurring to women’s mental health post-pregnancy, treatments and support programs can be created and implemented to possibly improve the mental wellbeing of both mother and child.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
WCHHS - Nursing
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Mary Dioise Ramos
Effects of Pregnancy on Women’s Mental Health and Wellbeing
Background: Women who experience pregnancy undergo numerous changes. These changes range from physical to mental and many more. However, there has been extensive research on how the woman’s body changes and develops before pregnancy, during, and even post-pregnancy, yet there is not as extensive an understanding of how the woman’s mental health is affected by pregnancy. Objective: The aim of this systematic review was to answer the question "How pregnant women perceive their mental health changed throughout pregnancy and post-partum?" Previous research was conducted on the understanding of how pregnancy affects pregnant women’s mental health and wellbeing throughout and post-pregnancy. Postpartum depression is a term prevalently heard, yet that does not explain the range of mental health changes that occur post pregnancy. Method: Search of the bibliographic databases PubMed, Proquest, CINAHL was done to analyze longitudinal studies on the effects of pregnancy on mental health published from 2015-2021. Result: Pregnancy impacts women’s mental health whilst also raising hormone levels that are associated with productivity, positive, and happiness. Conclusion: Greater understanding of what is occurring to women’s mental health post-pregnancy, treatments and support programs can be created and implemented to possibly improve the mental wellbeing of both mother and child.