Sleep and depression in couples during the transition to parenthood

ABSTRACT

Objectives

The objectives were to: (1) investigate the prevalence, differences and changes in sleep quality over time among Chinese couples during pregnancy and at 6 weeks and 6 months postpartum and (2) examine the association between sleep quality and depressive symptoms.

Method

This study was part of an intervention study for postnatal depression. Childbearing couples were recruited from antenatal clinics. Data on sleep and depression during pregnancy and at 6 weeks and 6 months postpartum were collected using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, respectively.

Results

The prevalence of sleep disturbance (PSQI score > 5) during pregnancy and at 6 weeks and 6 months postpartum was 45.0%, 62.8% and 36.8%, respectively, among women and 26.4%, 36.4% and 27.3%, respectively, among men. Sleep quality declined significantly in both partners from pregnancy to 6 weeks postpartum, followed by a significant improvement by 6 months postpartum. The results revealed significant correlations between partners’ scores on sleep quality across the perinatal period, with women experiencing poorer sleep quality than men. Poor sleep was associated with depressive symptoms across the perinatal period for both partners.

Conclusions

This study highlights the importance of screening couples for sleep disturbances throughout pregnancy and the postnatal period and assisting them to develop strategies to improve sleep quality during the transition to parenthood.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank all the childbearing couples participating in the study and the research team in the data collection.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Research Grants Council, University Grants Committee [15602818].