Cognitive vulnerability factors associated with antenatal depression among Chinese pregnant women: A cross-sectional study

It has been recognized that cognitive processes play an important role in the onset and maintenance of depression. However, little research has tested whether this predictive role of the same processes holds in the antenatal period, a time of tremendous, complex change and adjustment for an expectant mother. The aim of this study was to determine the cognitive influencing factors that may increase the risk of developing antenatal depression (AND) at the third trimester of pregnancy. It was a cross-sectional study, in which women completed questionnaire measures at their third trimester of pregnancy between February to May 2023. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Big Five Inventory-2 (BFI-2), Ruminative Responses Scale (RRS), Perceived Stress Scale-14 (PSS-14) and Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire (CFQ) were administered to assess levels of AND, personality traits, rumination, perceived stress and cognitive fusion respectively. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify associations between these measures and AND. The prevalence of AND among women at their third trimester of pregnancy was 35.1 %. A multivariate logistic regression model identified significant influencing factors as: neuroticism, brooding, perceived stress and cognitive fusion. A tendency of extraversion was a protective factor. This study highlighted the predictive role of cognitive process in the development of AND. Early detection of these modifiable influencing factors is fundamental to provide targeted psychological interventions during pregnancy.