April 27th, 2022

The Press
Kanagawa University of Human Services

Drastically increased postpartum depression during the COVID-19 pandemic and its
association with social restrictions.
About School of Health Innovation
School of Health Innovation (hereinafter SHI) are based on the ME-BYO concept for
fostering persons in areas of innovation in social systems and pursuing cutting-edge
technologies. Besides, we conduct research activities to try to materialize a healthy
aging society.
Abstract
The prevalence of postpartum depression during the pandemic (28.7%) was muchhigher than before (14.4%). In addition, COVID-19-related social restrictions and lossof social support from healthcare professionals, families, and friends were significantly
associated with postpartum depression.
The research backgrounds and approaches
Under the COVID-19 crisis, the surrounding environments of perinatal women havedrastically changed, and it cannot help facing various restrictions, loss of social support,and loss of maternal autonomy.
A team of researchers, led by Dr. Kanami TSUNO, Associate Professor at the School of
Health Innovation, conducted an Internet survey targeting 600 postpartum women on
October 2020. Their findings were published as an Original Article in the Journal ofAffective Disorders.
The authors used the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale to measure postpartum
depression. The prevalence ratios were estimated by the log-binominal regression
model, adjusting for the potential confounders, including age, education, householdincome, residential area, parity, the timing of delivery, and a prior history of depression.
The research conclusions
The study found that approximately 30% of women who delivered and raised babies
during the COVID-19 pandemic had postpartum depression, which was much higher
than before. In addition, more than 90% of women experienced restriction of theirfamily members' visits during their hospital stay.
Social restrictions, including cancellation of home visits by healthcare professionals
and cancellation of infant checkups or vaccinations, loss of support during pregnancy
or after delivery, including loss of opportunities to consult with healthcare
professionals or friends and cancellation of parents or other family members' visits tosupport, and loss of autonomy about delivery or breastfeeding, were associated withpostnatal depression.
The results indicate that both formal and informal support should not be limited topreventing postpartum depression during a pandemic.

Original Article:
Tsuno K, Okawa S, Matsushima M, et al. The effect of social restrictions, loss of social
support, and loss of maternal autonomy on postpartum depression in 1 to 12-months
postpartum women during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Affect Disord. 2022;307:206-214.
doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.03.056.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165032722003032?via%3DihubContacts:
Researcher:
Associate Professor Kanami TSUNO
School of Health Innovation
Kanagawa University of Human Services
Institutions:
Yuzuru OKITA (the Administrative Office Executive Director)
School of Health Innovation
Kanagawa University of Human Services
Tel: +81-44-589-3312
Email: shi-press@kuhs.ac.jp