Association between pregnant specific stress and depressive symptoms in the late pregnancy of Chinese women: the moderate role of family relationship and leisure hobbies

BACKGROUND: Little research has been conducted on the association between pregnant specific stress and depressive symptoms, and whether family relationship and leisure hobbies moderate the association. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 647 pregnant women was conducted in Shenyang City, Liaoning Province of China. Pregnancy Pressure Scale (PPS), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and two single items were used to assess stress, perinatal depressive symptoms, family relationship and leisure hobbies, respectively. The analysis included χ(2)-test, Fisher’s exact test, and binary logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of perinatal depressive symptoms was 22.9% among the participants. After adjustment, four dimensions of pregnancy stress were found to increase the risk of depressive symptoms, and odds ratios (ORs) were 4.175 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.240, 7.779), 5.947 (95% CI = 2.624, 13.478), 3.907 (95% CI = 2.375, 6.425), and 8.534 (95% CI = 4.588, 15.873) for factors 1, 2, 3, and 4 (recognition of the role of parents, worrying about maternal and child health and safety, the changes in body shape and physical activity level, as well as child care and marriage), respectively. In addition, significant interactions were found between factor 2, factor 4 and family relationship, leisure hobbies with depressive symptoms, respectively (interaction P < 0.10). CONCLUSION: Tailored stress-overcoming programs, as well as health services, are needed to relieve women’s pregnancy stress and prevent them from depressive symptoms. Clinical practice should conduct family relationship-oriented interventions and women themselves can cultivate extensive leisure hobbies in the period of pregnancy preparation.