Protective Factors against Prenatal Depression in Pregnant Women

Abstract

This study explored protective factors against prenatal depression in pregnant women. One-hundred thirty-four pregnant women were recruited from an obstetric clinic and public health center in Korea. Dyadic adjustment, sense of mastery, and prenatal depression were assessed using structured question- naires. Prenatal depression was assessed with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depres- sion Scale (EDPS). Binomial logistic analysis was used to identify predictors of prenatal depression. Of the participants, 40.3% screened as positive on the EPDS with a cut-off point of 9/10. Protective factors against prenatal depres- sion were a history of childbirth, dyadic adjustment, and sense of mastery. We must consider these findings when developing interventions for pregnant wom- en focusing on prevention and management of prenatal depression.