The perceived risk of pregnancy as a mediator of the association between prenatal depression and depression 5 years after giving birth

Abstract

The present study examines a mother's perception of her pregnancy as risking herself and her fetus, as a mediator of the association between depressive symptoms during pregnancy and depressive symptoms 5 years after giving birth, regardless of actual objective risk. 290 Jewish Israeli mothers filled out self-reported questionnaires dealing with objective risk, subjective risk and depressive symptoms. The findings confirmed partial mediation effect, implying a potential negative impact of the preventive efforts usually made, by increasing risk perception with long-term costs for mothers, especially for those who have already developed depressive symptoms.