Predictors of Perinatal Anxiety and Depression
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Role of Cognitive and Metacognitive Factors in Perinatal Anxiety and Depression
IRAS ID
163466
Contact name
Dawn Leach
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Kingston University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
The Role of Cognitive and Metacognitive Factors in Perinatal Anxiety and Depression
Pregnancy is a demanding and challenging period in a woman's life that requires a number of significant adaptation and changes in both first-time parents as well as in parents with other children (Harwood, McLean, & Durkin, 2007). A response style characterised by perseverative thinking (worry and rumination) may lead to the worsening of negative affect (Michl, McLaughlin, Shepherd, & Nolen-Hoeksema, 2013) and has been shown to predict anxiety and depression in the general population (Nolen-Hoeksema, 2000).
The current study has two parts. All participants will be recruited from an antenatal clinic in Bristol. For the 1st study we will recruit approximately 300 pregnant women to participate in a cross-sectional study examining the psychometric properties of the Pregnancy Related Beliefs Questionnaire (PRBQ) (Moorhead, Owens, & Scott, 2003). Specifically, we are interested in conducting a full factor analysis of the 54-item measure of cognitive style during the perinatal period, in order to reduce the number of items and identify the underlying structure of the measure. For the 2nd study, we will recruit approximately 400 women to take part in a longitudinal study examining the role of perseverative thinking in women’s development of anxiety and depression during the perinatal period. Specifically, we are interested in whether worry, rumination, and/or metacognitions measured in early pregnancy can predict levels of anxiety and depression during the later stages of pregnancy and post-partum, while controlling for more established predictors such as cognitive style, past history of psychopathology, and perceived levels of social support.
REC name
London - Harrow Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/0840
Date of REC Opinion
19 May 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion