Pregnancy depression increases due to work and social media

DEPRESSION during pregnancy is on the rise due to an increase in women in work, combined with pressure from social media, experts have said.

A new study reveals an “alarming” 50 per cent rise in levels of prenatal depression in a single generation.

Researchers believe that while many women continue working throughout the bulk of their pregnancy due to career aspiration, others are forced to stay in their jobs longer than they would like because of financial demands such as increased house prices.

Both are contributing to a rise in anxiety among expectant mothers, with a “compare and compete” culture on platforms such as Facebook also fuelling the trend.

The study by the University of Bristol questioned pregnant women aged 19 to 24 between 1990 and 1992, and then between 2012 and 2016. Of the first generation, 17 per cent had high depressive symptoms scores, while the among the second generation the proportion had risen to 25 per cent.

Prenatal depression has been linked to a higher risk of emotional, behavioural and cognitive difficulties among offspring. Dr Rebecca Pearson, who led the research, said: “Pregnancy is getting harder. We know that employment among young women has increased massively in a generation, both because they want to work, which is great, but also because they can’t afford not to.

“You often need two incomes to afford a house these days. It’s increasing anxiety levels.” Dr Pearson said the 2012 to 2016 cohort were informative because they were the “prime Facebook generation”, who would have begun using the social media platform during adolescence.

Many couples now announce their pregnancies on Facebook, for instance by posting the picture of a scan.

Waiting for “likes” and comments is likely to be contributing to heightened rates of depression, said Dr Pearson, adding that social media gives a false impression that other expectant mothers are coping better.

She cautioned, however, that the increase in antenatal depression comes amid the context or rising depression and anxiety generally among young women.

“Chronic stress, sleep deprivation, eating habits, sedentary lifestyle and the fast pace of modern life may be contributing to an increasing prevalence of depression among young people generally,” she said.