The Effect of Physical Activity during Pregnancy on the Development of Postpartum Depression (PPD): A Literature Review
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Date
2024-05-15
Authors
Hunt, Katherine
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Abstract
Introduction: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a condition characterized by major depressive mood disorder following childbirth. The onset of depressive symptoms is most often within four weeks after childbirth, but the diagnosis is often made up until a year postpartum. Current prevention and treatment strategies focus on the use of psychotherapy and anti-depressant medications. The research on alternative interventions such as the effect of exercise on the prevention of PPD is limited and inconclusive.
Objective: The purpose of this study is to further understand how efficacious exercise is in the prevention of PPD. There are currently very few recommendations for preventing PPD, thus there are knowledge gaps to fill in this area of research. This study will look at the current literature and determine if there is enough evidence to recommend physical activity during pregnancy for the prevention of PPD.
Methods: A literature search was done using PubMed and PsycINFO databases. The search was performed using key terms about physical activity during pregnancy and its relation to the prevention of PPD. Six articles were found that best met the inclusion criteria and were therefore used in the literature review.
Results: Four studies selected were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which used an intervention to investigate how physical activity would impact depression screening in the postpartum period. The other two articles used prospective and retrospective cohorts to analyze if activity levels would influence EPDS scores in the postpartum period.
Discussion/Conclusion: The studies selected for review differed in study design and therefore the results of each study had some variation. Two of the RCTs showed no significant impact from exercise during pregnancy on PPD. However, these studies both faced issues with adherence, among other limiting factors. The other two RCTs selected followed similar protocols and both found exercise during pregnancy resulted in less prevalence of depressive symptoms in the postpartum period. Furthermore, both observational studies drew similar conclusions regarding the association between individuals reporting higher levels of activity in pregnancy and lower EPDS scores. No studies reviewed reported adverse effects from exercise during pregnancy on maternal mental health. Nonetheless, more research should be completed to validate the effect of prenatal exercise on the prevention of depression in the postpartum period.