Abstract
The purpose of this study was to describe the daytime activity levels and their association with sleep, fatigue, depressive
symptoms, and quality of life. Wrist actigraphy and questionnaires were used to examine 51 mothers with a preterm infant during
their second week postpartum. Circadian activity rhythms (CAR) were less synchronized in these mothers; they experienced sleep
disturbances, fatigue, depressive symptoms, and poor health-related quality of life (H-QOL). Compared to high-activity mothers,
mothers with low activity levels slept less during nighttime but napped more during daytime, and reported more postpartum
depressive symptoms. Further research is needed to examine the effect of low activity level and sleep loss on postpartum depression,
and to develop interventions for improving rest/activity patterns for new mothers.
symptoms, and quality of life. Wrist actigraphy and questionnaires were used to examine 51 mothers with a preterm infant during
their second week postpartum. Circadian activity rhythms (CAR) were less synchronized in these mothers; they experienced sleep
disturbances, fatigue, depressive symptoms, and poor health-related quality of life (H-QOL). Compared to high-activity mothers,
mothers with low activity levels slept less during nighttime but napped more during daytime, and reported more postpartum
depressive symptoms. Further research is needed to examine the effect of low activity level and sleep loss on postpartum depression,
and to develop interventions for improving rest/activity patterns for new mothers.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Article
- Pages 1-8
- DOI 10.1007/s00737-012-0275-1
- Authors
- Shih-Yu Lee, Byrdine F. Lewis School of Nursing and Health Professions, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 4010, Atlanta, GA 30302-4019, USA
- Carol H. Grantham, Byrdine F. Lewis School of Nursing and Health Professions, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 4010, Atlanta, GA 30302-4019, USA
- Susan Shelton, Byrdine F. Lewis School of Nursing and Health Professions, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 4010, Atlanta, GA 30302-4019, USA
- Dana Meaney-Delman, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Journal Archives of Women’s Mental Health
- Online ISSN 1435-1102
- Print ISSN 1434-1816