Effect of work-family conflict on antenatal maternal depression across pregnancy

Abstract

Background Pregnancy itself is a stressful period during which expectant mothers need to adjust to their maternal role. Working expectant mothers may have extra challenge as they may experience work-family conflict and need to occupy both work and family roles simultaneously. Antenatal depression is under researched but it is common over pregnancy and could have adverse impact on mothers and infants. To fill the research gaps, the present study is to examine the effect of work-family conflict on antenatal depression across different stages of pregnancy. Methods A prospective longitudinal design with quantitative approach was adopted. A consecutive sample of 251 Chinese pregnant women from a public hospital in Hong Kong was invited to participate in the study and was assessed using standardized instruments on first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Results The majority (80.9 %) of the participants were working women. Among working pregnant women, their levels of work-family conflict did not change across the three trimesters of pregnancy. The result of hierarchical multiple regressions showed that levels of work-family conflict significantly and independently predicted levels of antenatal depressive symptoms at first (β=.28, t=3.88, p<.001) and second trimester (β=.22, t=2.05, p<.05), even after adjusting for the effects of potential confounders. The mixed effect model with repeated measure indicated that levels of work-family conflict was significantly associated with levels of antenatal depressive symptoms across all stages of antenatal period (p<.001). Conclusion Among working pregnant women, work-family conflict is an important issue that needs to be resolved given that it significantly relates to antenatal depressive symptoms which are detrimental to the health of both mothers and infants. Greater research is needed to explore ways to support working pregnant women.