A comparative study of depression, stress, and anxiety in two groups of women with and without children: a population-based study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 PhD student of Reproductive Health, Student Research Committee, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

2 Associate professor, Department of Midwifery, Midwifery and Reproductive Health Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

3 Associate professor, Department of Midwifery, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.

4 Assistant professor, Department of Biostatistics, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: Postponed childbearing is a social phenomenon in Iranian families. There is a controversy about its effect on mental health. Therefore, this study was conducted aimed to determine the role of childbearing in the rate of depression, stress, and anxiety in Iranian women of childbearing age.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in 2021 on 581 eligible non-pregnant married women from 31 provinces of Iran. Non-random available sampling was performed as electronic form in virtual space. Data were analyzed by Demographic and Medical History Questionnaire, Sleep Quality (adapted from LSQ), Marital Satisfaction (EMS), Perceived Social Support (MSMPSS), Socioeconomic Status (Ghodratnama Questionnaire), and Stress-Anxiety-Depression (DASS-21). Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 22) and Independent t-test, Chi-square, and binary logistic regression. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Female and spouse education (P <0.001), female employment (P = 0.004), and higher socioeconomic status (P = 0.04) were significantly higher in women without children. The marital satisfaction (P = 0.061), social support (P = 0.13), sleep quality (P = 0.58), history of chronic disease (P = 0.64), and place of residence (P = 0.058) were not significantly different between the two groups. After adjusting the data, the rate of depression in childless women is twice that of women with children (AOR=2.06 95% CI: 1.11-3.82). Stress (P = 0.38) and anxiety (P = 0.9) were not significantly different between the two groups.
Conclusion: Having children not only does not increase the rate of stress and anxiety, but also protects women against depression. Therefore, encouraging childbearing seems to promote the mental health of women in Iranian society.

Keywords

References

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The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility
Volume 25, Issue 7
September 2022
Pages 45-58

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