Rest-activity cycle and symptoms of depression in motherhood

The aim of the study was to explore associations between disrupted rest-activity cycles and symptoms of depression in the perinatal period. Mothers were evaluated in the third trimester of pregnancy at 3, 6 and 12 months postpartum. A group of non-pregnant women was used as reference. Self-reported inventories were completed to assess depressive symptoms and actigraphy was used to measure rest-activity patterns. The rest-activity cycle of mothers was distrubed in pregnancy and particularly during the first months after delivery. Symptoms of depression were associated with altered rest-activity cycles, with a less marked dichotomy between sleep and wake states (BDI-II, r = -.28, p = .03), with less activity when awake (from r = -.26, p = .05, PDSS to r = -.31, p = .02, BDI-II) or before retiring (BDI-II, r = -.40, p < .01) and particularly with more inactivity in the hours after rising (BDI-II, r = .28, p = .03; PDSS, r = .33, p = .01). These results suggest that engaging in daily activities when awake and good sleep hygiene could eventually amcliorate mother's mood.