Abstract
Symptoms of depression and anxiety are prevalent during pregnancy and may influence women’s health behaviors. The impact of
women’s mental health on alcohol use may be particularly important to consider as prenatal alcohol use is common and may have
serious negative consequences for the developing fetus. The objectives of this study were to investigate the relationships
between elevated symptoms of depression and anxiety and subsequent likelihood of any alcohol use and binge drinking during
pregnancy. The sample consisted of 12,824 women from a prospective, population-based study from the United Kingdom, the Avon
Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Participants completed questionnaires assessing alcohol use and depressive and
anxious symptoms during the first and third trimesters of pregnancy. A series of multivariable regression models was fit using
multiply imputed data. Thirty four percent of women reported having at least one alcoholic drink at 32 weeks’ gestation and
17% reported binge drinking. We found a weak association between elevated symptoms of anxiety and any alcohol use but not
between elevated symptoms of depression and any alcohol use. Modest associations were found between both elevated symptoms
of depression and anxiety at 18 weeks’ gestation and binge drinking at 32 weeks’ gestation. Elevated symptoms of depression
and anxiety may increase risk for binge drinking during pregnancy. Further research into the impact of symptoms of depression
and anxiety on binge drinking during pregnancy is needed as this could represent an opportunity for public health intervention.
women’s mental health on alcohol use may be particularly important to consider as prenatal alcohol use is common and may have
serious negative consequences for the developing fetus. The objectives of this study were to investigate the relationships
between elevated symptoms of depression and anxiety and subsequent likelihood of any alcohol use and binge drinking during
pregnancy. The sample consisted of 12,824 women from a prospective, population-based study from the United Kingdom, the Avon
Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Participants completed questionnaires assessing alcohol use and depressive and
anxious symptoms during the first and third trimesters of pregnancy. A series of multivariable regression models was fit using
multiply imputed data. Thirty four percent of women reported having at least one alcoholic drink at 32 weeks’ gestation and
17% reported binge drinking. We found a weak association between elevated symptoms of anxiety and any alcohol use but not
between elevated symptoms of depression and any alcohol use. Modest associations were found between both elevated symptoms
of depression and anxiety at 18 weeks’ gestation and binge drinking at 32 weeks’ gestation. Elevated symptoms of depression
and anxiety may increase risk for binge drinking during pregnancy. Further research into the impact of symptoms of depression
and anxiety on binge drinking during pregnancy is needed as this could represent an opportunity for public health intervention.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-8
- DOI 10.1007/s10995-011-0892-8
- Authors
- Julie A. Leis, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, 200 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Jon Heron, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol, BS8 2PS UK
- Elizabeth A. Stuart, Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Tamar Mendelson, Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Journal Maternal and Child Health Journal
- Online ISSN 1573-6628
- Print ISSN 1092-7875