Archives of Women's Mental Health最新文献

{"title":"Influences of adverse childhood experiences and weekly pregnancy stress on postpartum mental health symptoms: a machine learning examination.","authors":"Amy K Nuttall, G Anne Bogat, Kevin J Grimm, Maria Muzik, Joseph S Lonstein, Cecilia Martinez-Torteya, Alytia A Levendosky","doi":"10.1007/s00737-026-01715-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-026-01715-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The goal of this study was to understand how the timing, level, and fluctuation of pregnancy stress affected women's postpartum mental health while also considering their experiences of early life stress (adverse childhood events; ACEs). We hypothesized that overall stress level, as well as stress during particular pregnancy weeks, would influence postpartum mental health. We further hypothesized that fluctuations in weekly perceived stress levels across pregnancy would influence postpartum mental health among women who had experienced ≥ 4 ACEs.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We collected information on ACEs and weekly stress data from our participants during pregnancy (15 weeks until parturition). Women's depressive and anxiety symptoms were assessed at six-months postpartum. We employed a machine learning approach to explore the predictive utility of timing, level, and fluctuation of pregnancy stress on postpartum mental health symptoms.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>For all women, higher average stress level across all weeks of pregnancy predicted greater postpartum depressive and anxiety symptoms. Additionally, women with a history of ≥ 4 ACEs were susceptible to stress levels in weeks 20 of pregnancy (depressive symptoms only) and 26 (depressive and anxiety symptoms). Lastly, greater variability in stress levels across pregnancy was also associated with greater depressive symptoms for the women with ≥ 4 ACES.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In addition to overall stress level, timing of pregnancy stress and fluctuations in stress levels across pregnancy are associated with postpartum mental health for women with a history of substantial ACEs, with implications for focused mental health interventions during pregnancy for these women.</p>","PeriodicalId":8369,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Women's Mental Health","volume":"29 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147863413","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Who is screened for perinatal mental health? findings from an academic health system in California.","authors":"Rebecca Woofter, Rashmi Rao, Misty Richards, May Sudhinaraset","doi":"10.1007/s00737-026-01719-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-026-01719-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To identify sociodemographic characteristics, prenatal healthcare utilization, and health factors associated with completed mental health screenings during pregnancy and postpartum, respectively.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We examined electronic medical records (EMR) data on documented perinatal mental health screenings from over 6000 patients who delivered singleton infants within one academic healthcare system in California between 2021 and 2023. Dependent variables included having at least one Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score documented in the EMR during (1) pregnancy and (2) postpartum, among those who completed postpartum care within 12 weeks of delivery. We used univariate frequencies to determine rates of completed screenings and logistic regression models to identify patient characteristics associated with completed screenings in each time period.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, 67% of patients completed screenings in pregnancy and 56% completed screenings in postpartum. In pregnancy, patients who were White, multiparous, did not prefer English, began prenatal care in the third trimester, and completed 10 or fewer prenatal care visits each had lower odds of completed screenings than their counterparts. In postpartum, patients who were White, privately insured, had vaginal deliveries, and had term births (at least 37 weeks of gestation) each had lower odds of completed screenings than their counterparts.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Although California law requires perinatal mental health screening in pregnancy and postpartum , the identified inequities in screening suggest additional efforts are needed to ensure all perinatal patients are screened for mental health in accordance with the law. These efforts should be tailored to the populations least likely to be screened in order to achieve universal perinatal mental health screening.</p>","PeriodicalId":8369,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Women's Mental Health","volume":"29 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147863473","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Women with first-episode psychosis: diagnostic stability and clinical trajectories.","authors":"Alba Toll, Beltrán Jiménez-Fernández, Emilio Pechuán, Nicole Motta-Rojas, Daniel Bergé, Amira Trabsa, Víctor Pérez-Solà, Anna Mané","doi":"10.1007/s00737-026-01711-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-026-01711-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The aim of this study was to assess the influence of sex on diagnostic stability in first-episode psychosis during the first year of follow-up.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a prospective, observational study of 256 patients with FEP, of whom 188 (73.4%) completed the 1-year follow-up. Patients were consecutively recruited at a specialized early intervention program. Comprehensive psychiatric evaluations and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR Axis I disorders were performed at baseline and follow-up. Diagnoses were grouped into affective and non-affective psychoses. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify predictors of diagnostic shift, with a particular focus on sex.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>At one-year follow-up, 48.9% of patients experienced some form of diagnostic change. Specifically, 14.4% shifted from non-affective to affective psychosis. Female sex was the only independent predictor of diagnostic shift (OR = 0.30; 95% CI = 0.10-0.87; p = 0.027). No other clinical or demographic variables were significantly associated with diagnostic change.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Female FEP patients were significantly more likely to experience a diagnostic shift toward affective psychosis during the first year of follow-up. These findings highlight the importance of considering sex differences in clinical presentation at illness onset to improve diagnostic accuracy, optimize treatment strategies, and enhance long-term outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":8369,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Women's Mental Health","volume":"29 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147863414","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Women’s perceived partner support during the perinatal and early childhood period: changes over time for women with and without Major Depressive Disorder","authors":"Irene Bobevski,&nbsp;Karen Wynter,&nbsp;Philip Boyce,&nbsp;Megan Galbally","doi":"10.1007/s00737-026-01706-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00737-026-01706-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Partner support is both an important protective and risk factor for women’s mental health perinatally. Although there is likely a bidirectional relationship between support and mental health, a research gap exists in understanding changes in women’s experience of partner support over pregnancy and early childhood, and whether this differs for women with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). This study examines whether women diagnosed with MDD antenatally are at increased risk of deteriorating partner support over the perinatal period, after accounting for demographic effects, ongoing depressive symptoms, stressful life events, and attachment orientation. </p><h3>Methods</h3><p>731 women recruited into a longitudinal pregnancy cohort study, the Mercy Pregnancy Emotional Wellbeing Study, were included, of whom 124 were diagnosed with MDD first trimester using the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM (SCID). Perceived partner support was measured with the Social Support Effectiveness Questionnaire (SSEQ) in third trimester, 6 and 12 months, and 4 years postpartum. Partner support changes over time were analysed with mixed effects modelling.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>There was an overall small but significant decline in partner support over time for all women. However, this decline was larger for women with MDD between 12 months and 4 years postpartum. Ongoing depressive symptoms, stressful life events, and insecure attachment orientation contributed to perceptions of lower partner support.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The perinatal and early childhood period poses an increased risk for the partner relationship for all women, but this risk is increased for women with MDD. This knowledge could be translated into identifying vulnerable women and offering appropriate interventions. </p></div>","PeriodicalId":8369,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Women's Mental Health","volume":"29 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00737-026-01706-1.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147829658","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Poor mood after oral contraceptive use is associated with increased vulnerability to peripartum depression, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and higher genetic risk for depression","authors":"Jacqueline Kiewa,&nbsp;Penelope A. Lind,&nbsp;Ian B. Hickie,&nbsp;Sarah E. Medland,&nbsp;Brittany E. Mitchell,&nbsp;Christel M. Middeldorp,&nbsp;Nicholas G. Martin,&nbsp;Naomi R. Wray,&nbsp;Enda M. Byrne","doi":"10.1007/s00737-026-01708-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00737-026-01708-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>This study tested whether adverse mood effect of the oral contraceptive pill (OCP) is associated with reproductive depressive episodes, including peripartum depression (PPD), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), and perimenopausal depression.</p><h3>Method</h3><p>In a sample of 3,547 OCP users from the Australian Genetics of Depression Study, who reported a lifetime depression diagnosis, logistic regression was used to test the association of PPD, PMDD, and perimenopausal depression with OCP adverse mood effect. Polygenic scores (PGS) for major depression (MD) were also tested for association with adverse mood effect. Sensitivity analyses tested for modification of these associations by a history of depression prior to first OCP use (prior depression), or by depression onset before the age of twenty (child/teen depression onset).</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Adverse mood effect was reported by 1,342 OCP users (38%). PPD, PMDD, prior depression and child/teen depression onset were significantly associated with adverse mood effect (PPD: Relative Risk (RR) = 1.66,CI=[1.4–2.0], <i>P</i> = 2.0 × 10^− 6; PMDD: RR = 3.78,CI=[2.4-6.0], <i>P</i> = 2.2 × 10^− 8; prior depression: RR = 1.32,CI=[1.1–1.5], <i>P</i> = 5.9 × 10^− 4; child/teen depression onset: RR = 1.56,CI=[1.3–1.8], <i>P</i> = 1.1 × 10^− 7). The association of PPD with adverse mood effect remained significant for women with no prior or child/teen depression onset (RR = 1.77,CI=[1.3–2.4], <i>P</i> = 4.6 × 10^− 4), but was not significant for women with both prior and child/teen depression onset. Adverse mood effect was significantly associated with PGS for MD: full sample: RR = 1.18,CI=[1.1–1.3], <i>P</i> = 3.6 × 10^− 5); no prior or child/teen depression onset: RR = 1.27,CI=[1.1–1.4], <i>P</i> = 3.1 × 10^− 4.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Participants who experience an adverse mood effect with OCP use are likely to have higher genetic vulnerability for depression, and experience child/teen depression onset, as well as reproductive depressive episodes such as PPD.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8369,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Women's Mental Health","volume":"29 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00737-026-01708-z.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147829147","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Distinct scars: unique effects of physical and sexual abuse on mental health outcomes in a gender-specific substance use disorder sample in Brazil from 1998 to 2024","authors":"Mário Nicolau Silva Gomes,&nbsp;Talita Di Santi,&nbsp;Luisa Wolff,&nbsp;Sabrina Lopes Barbosa,&nbsp;José Vitor Tomazela,&nbsp;Anna Carolina Berkenbrock Mendes,&nbsp;Pedro Tótolo,&nbsp;Paulo Jeng Chian Suen,&nbsp;Andreza Aparecida Miranda Santos,&nbsp;Silvia Brasiliano,&nbsp;Patrícia Brunfentrinker Hochgraf,&nbsp;Pedro Starzynski Bacchi","doi":"10.1007/s00737-026-01702-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00737-026-01702-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><p>(1) To compare sociodemographic characteristics, psychopathology, and substance use patterns among women diagnosed with substance use disorder (SUD) who experienced physical abuse (PA), sexual abuse (SA), or both (PSA); (2) to describe ages of onset; (3) to evaluate the impact of PA, SA, and their interaction on clinical outcomes.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>Observational retrospective study with patients from PROMUD (Drug Dependent Women Treatment Center) in Brazil. Questionnaires at admission assessed sociodemographics, history of SA and PA, substance use, and psychopathology. t-tests and chi-squared tests were used for descriptive statistics. Logistic and linear regressions estimated associations between clinical outcomes and history of SA or PA in crude and adjusted models. The PA–SA interaction was tested.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>401 patients were included (1999–2024). Both SA and PA were associated with greater socioeconomic vulnerability and higher non-heterosexual orientation. SA often began in early childhood, PA more often in adolescence. PA was associated with higher odds of cocaine/crack as the main substance of dependence (OR = 2.7, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) and lifetime physical aggression (OR = 1.9, <i>p</i> = 0.018). SA was linked to lifetime suicidal ideation (OR = 2.8, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.01) and use of other substances (OR = 2.0, <i>p</i> = 0.041). No significant PA*SA interaction was found.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>SA was associated with internalizing patterns, such as suicidal ideation and cannabis/sedative use, whereas PA was linked to externalizing patterns, including physical aggression and cocaine/crack use. These effects were independent, underscoring the need to assess both in women with SUD and to develop gender-sensitive, trauma-informed interventions, particularly where resources are limited. </p></div>","PeriodicalId":8369,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Women's Mental Health","volume":"29 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00737-026-01702-5.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147760463","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Inclusion of women in French psychiatric clinical trials: an exploratory study of researchers’ experiences and challenges","authors":"François Berthet,&nbsp;Anne Le Jeannic,&nbsp;Franck Rolland","doi":"10.1007/s00737-026-01704-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00737-026-01704-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p> Women remain underrepresented in clinical trials despite increasing evidence of sex and gender-related differences. </p><h3>Methods</h3><p>We conducted an exploratory qualitative study based on seven semi-structured interviews with French psychiatrist-researchers to examine how women’s inclusion in clinical trials is perceived and managed. </p><h3>Results</h3><p>Participants described precautionary exclusion of pregnant and breastfeeding women, organizational constraints related to umbrella protocols, and indirect communication with Research Ethics Committees. </p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>These findings suggest that women’s underrepresentation may be shaped by precautionary practices and institutional structures rather than explicit opposition to inclusion.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8369,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Women's Mental Health","volume":"29 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147760533","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An online intervention targeting intimate partner violence in perinatal women with recent mental health care utilization: a multisite randomized clinical trial","authors":"Dawn M. Johnson,&nbsp;Ananda Sen,&nbsp;Dongru Chen,&nbsp;Kristina Countryman,&nbsp;Maria Muzik,&nbsp;Briana Joseph,&nbsp;Golfo Tzilos Wernette,&nbsp;Caron Zlontick","doi":"10.1007/s00737-026-01703-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00737-026-01703-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>This study evaluated the efficacy of an online intervention targeting intimate partner violence (IPV) in perinatal women, <i>S</i>trength for <i>U</i> in <i>R</i>elationship <i>E</i>mpowerment (SURE), relative to an attention, time, and information-matched control, on IPV severity, positive affect and well-being, and perceived emotional support across a 12-month follow-up.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>Perinatal women (<i>N</i> = 122) who reported past 12-month IPV and recently engaged in mental health treatment were randomized to SURE (<i>n</i> = 65) or control (<i>n</i> = 57). SURE participants received a 40-minute online intervention based in motivational interviewing and empowerment. Control participants viewed a 40-minute online video of popular entertainment, followed by questions about preferences. Both conditions also included a brief 10-15-minute telephone-delivered booster session one month after the online session. Follow-up assessments occurred at 6 weeks, and 3-, 6-, and 12-months since the baseline visit.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Both interventions exhibited a significant drop in IPV severity from baseline to 12-month follow-up, with no significant differences between arms (range of standardized effect sizes for the time by group interaction <i>=</i> 0.20–1.65). Significant intervention effects were found for both positive affect and well-being (range of standardized effect sizes for the time by group interaction = -0.04-1.62) and perceived emotional support (range of standardized effect sizes for the time by group interaction = 0.65–2.10), where participants in SURE exhibited significant increases in both outcomes, while control participants did not.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Results suggest that SURE provides a good model for an online intervention for perinatal women who have sought mental health services.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8369,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Women's Mental Health","volume":"29 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00737-026-01703-4.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147738448","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Psychometric properties and validation of the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ) in Mexican mothers","authors":"Bruma Palacios-Hernández,&nbsp;Yuria Cruz-Alaniz,&nbsp;Fernando Austria-Corrales,&nbsp;Cristina Sánchez-Aviléz,&nbsp;M. Sarahí Martínez-Rodríguez,&nbsp;Bernarda Téllez-Alanís,&nbsp;Leonor Rivera-Rivera,&nbsp;Marina Séris-Martínez,&nbsp;Thalía Harmony","doi":"10.1007/s00737-026-01701-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00737-026-01701-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>Mother-infant bonding disorders have the potential to impact infant development and maternal mental health during the perinatal period. In Mexico, the limited information regarding their prevalence is associated with the absence of validated instruments for their detection. The Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ) is one of the most widely used instruments internationally, although it reports high psychometric heterogeneity depending on the context. The objective of this study was to adapt and evaluate the psychometric properties of a Mexican version of the PBQ (PBQ-Mx) and to establish its sensitivity and specificity in Mexican mothers.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>The PBQ-Mx was administered to 455 women in the first postpartum year. A Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and an Item Response Theory (IRT) analysis were performed. A ROC curve analysis was also performed on a subsample of 134 mothers with a clinical diagnosis of the quality of mother-infant bonding using the Stafford Interview to determine sensitivity, specificity, and a cut-off point.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The original 25-item structure of the PBQ was confirmed, exhibiting good overall reliability (α = 0.82, Ω = 0.86), though factor 3 (infant-focused anxiety) demonstrated low reliability. IRT analysis confirmed the validity of the theoretical model. The prevalence of mother-infant bonding disorders was 7%. The cut-off point of ≥ 12 demonstrated a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 88% (AUC = 0.980).</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The PBQ-Mx demonstrated psychometric properties that support its use as a valid and reliable tool for the early detection and research of mother-infant bonding difficulties in the Mexican postpartum population.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8369,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Women's Mental Health","volume":"29 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147738468","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Potentially traumatic experiences and mental health among asylum-seeking women of reproductive age: The significance of sexual violence and contextual risk factors","authors":"Satu Majlander,&nbsp;Tarja I. Kinnunen,&nbsp;Eero Lilja,&nbsp;Anu E. Castaneda,&nbsp;Natalia Skogberg,&nbsp;Päivikki Koponen","doi":"10.1007/s00737-026-01697-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00737-026-01697-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>Asylum-seeking women are often exposed to potentially traumatic experiences (PTEs), such as various forms of psychological and physical violence. This study examines women’s current mental health by assessing depressive and anxiety symptoms, symptoms indicating psychological trauma, and associated contextual factors.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>This study utilized data from the Asylum Seekers Health and Wellbeing Survey conducted in Finland in 2018. Women aged 18 to 50 years (<i>n</i> = 278) were included in the analysis and grouped by region of birth. PTEs were assessed using questions adapted from the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire. The Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 was used to detect depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms, and symptoms indicating psychological trauma were screened using the PROTECT Questionnaire.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Women who had experienced sexual violence had significantly higher odds of depressive and anxiety symptoms (OR = 6.33, 95% CI:2.86–14.05) compared to those who had not. Younger age (18–29 years) was also associated with higher odds of depressive and anxiety symptoms (OR = 2.07, 95% CI:1.10–3.89). Sexual violence (OR = 4.71, 95% CI:1.99–11.17), other PTEs (OR = 3.13, 95% CI:1.46–6.73), not having children (OR = 2.22, 95% CI:1.12–4.41) or ≥ 3 births (OR = 3.62, 95% CI:1.43–9.14), multilingualism (OR = 2.37, 95% CI:1.23–4.55), and being born in the Middle East and North Africa (OR = 2.42, 95% CI:1.19–4.95) were associated with symptoms indicating psychological trauma.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Sexual violence and other traumatic experiences, along with contextual factors, significantly elevate the risk of mental health problems among asylum-seeking women.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8369,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Women's Mental Health","volume":"29 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00737-026-01697-z.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147738352","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}