Association between physical activity and risk of postpartum depression
- P 691-690
Despite the recommendation of physical activity for preventing and treating depression, exercise therapy is not widely utilized in postpartum depression (PPD) as commonly perceived. The present study aims to investigate the association between physical activity and the risk of PPD, providing supplementary treatment recommendations. For the study 95 participants were recruited in their third trimester of pregnancy until one week after delivery, dividing them into three groups based on Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS) scores: healthy controls group with a score < 9, n = 40; screening positive group with a score 9–11, n = 31; PPD group with a score ≥ 12, n = 24. Physical activity rating scale (PARS-3) was used to measure activity levels along with daily step records from mobile phones. The total scores of PARS-3, exercise time and frequency differed among the three groups. There were significant negative correlations between exercise data and postpartum EPDS scores at baseline as well as during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. The findings of this study highlight the importance of physical activity during the postpartum period and provide optimal timing and frequency recommendations for exercise in pregnant women.