Life events, perceived social support, somatic difficulties and diseases during pregnancy as predictors of prenatal maternal anxiety and depression

The aim of the study was to assess the psychological, health, and socio-demographic predictors of anxious and depressive symptoms occurrence in women in the first pregnancy. 1426 women in the first pregnancy from Brno took part in ELSPAC project from November 1990 till February 1992 when they were in the 18(th)-20(th) week of pregnancy. Respondents evaluated in questionnaires the occurrence and impact of life events experienced since the beginning of pregnancy, the perceived social support, the occurrence of anxious and depressive symptoms, they reported on their health, occupation, financial situation, and marital status. 44.7% women in the first pregnancy showed sufficiently significant symptoms for the diagnosis of anxious disorder and 9.2% women in the first pregnancy showed sufficiently significant symptoms for the diagnosis of depressive disorder. The number of life events was the strongest predictor of prenatal anxiety, then the number of health symptoms, the perceived social support and financial difficulties. These predictors explained one fourth of data variance. The strongest predictor of prenatal depression was the number of life events and then the perceived social support and the number of health symptoms. These predictors explained one fifth of data variance.