Comparison of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in postpartum women with and without pain: a network analysis
Abstract Background Postpartum pain may worsen new mothers’ psychological distress but is understudied. This study used network analysis to compare depression, anxiety, and stress symptom networks in postpartum women with and without pain. Methods A total of 1153 postpartum women were grouped accord...
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2025-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07858-9 |
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| author | Yanchi Wang Kai Mao Jianhua Deng Jian Gu |
| author_facet | Yanchi Wang Kai Mao Jianhua Deng Jian Gu |
| author_sort | Yanchi Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Postpartum pain may worsen new mothers’ psychological distress but is understudied. This study used network analysis to compare depression, anxiety, and stress symptom networks in postpartum women with and without pain. Methods A total of 1153 postpartum women were grouped according to pain status: the no-pain group (n = 594) and the pain group (n = 559). Depression assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), anxiety via the DASS-21 anxiety subscale, and stress through the Maternal Postpartum Stress Scale (MPSS). Network analysis was employed to estimate and compare the symptom networks between the two groups, identifying central symptoms connecting different symptom clusters, and network comparison tests were conducted to assess differences in global and local network structures. Results In the no-pain group, the most central symptoms were E8 (“I have felt sad and miserable”), M19 (“Lack of time for myself”), and M15 (“Insufficient enjoyment in sexual intercourse”). In the pain group, the top central symptoms were E5 (“I have felt scared or panicky for no very good reason”), M15, and E8. Network comparison tests indicated no significant differences in global structure (M = 0.132, P = 0.908) or overall connectivity strength (S = 0.262, P = 0.374). In the non-pain group, the item with the highest predictability is D5 (“I felt I was close to panic”), while in the pain group, it is E4 (“I have been anxious or worried for no good reason”). Conclusions Postpartum pain modulates symptom networks, especially in body image and time management. Tailored interventions for pain - related distress are needed, and targeting central symptoms can improve maternal mental health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cd25d1a676754ef6ae9785d79a483715 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2393 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
| spelling | doaj-art-cd25d1a676754ef6ae9785d79a4837152025-08-20T03:46:12ZengBMCBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth1471-23932025-07-0125111110.1186/s12884-025-07858-9Comparison of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in postpartum women with and without pain: a network analysisYanchi Wang0Kai Mao1Jianhua Deng2Jian Gu3Affiliated Nantong Hospital of Shanghai University (The Sixth People’s Hospital of Nantong)Nantong UniversityAffiliated Nantong Hospital of Shanghai University (The Sixth People’s Hospital of Nantong)Nantong UniversityAbstract Background Postpartum pain may worsen new mothers’ psychological distress but is understudied. This study used network analysis to compare depression, anxiety, and stress symptom networks in postpartum women with and without pain. Methods A total of 1153 postpartum women were grouped according to pain status: the no-pain group (n = 594) and the pain group (n = 559). Depression assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), anxiety via the DASS-21 anxiety subscale, and stress through the Maternal Postpartum Stress Scale (MPSS). Network analysis was employed to estimate and compare the symptom networks between the two groups, identifying central symptoms connecting different symptom clusters, and network comparison tests were conducted to assess differences in global and local network structures. Results In the no-pain group, the most central symptoms were E8 (“I have felt sad and miserable”), M19 (“Lack of time for myself”), and M15 (“Insufficient enjoyment in sexual intercourse”). In the pain group, the top central symptoms were E5 (“I have felt scared or panicky for no very good reason”), M15, and E8. Network comparison tests indicated no significant differences in global structure (M = 0.132, P = 0.908) or overall connectivity strength (S = 0.262, P = 0.374). In the non-pain group, the item with the highest predictability is D5 (“I felt I was close to panic”), while in the pain group, it is E4 (“I have been anxious or worried for no good reason”). Conclusions Postpartum pain modulates symptom networks, especially in body image and time management. Tailored interventions for pain - related distress are needed, and targeting central symptoms can improve maternal mental health.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07858-9Postpartum womenPainDepressionAnxietyStressNetwork analysis |
| spellingShingle | Yanchi Wang Kai Mao Jianhua Deng Jian Gu Comparison of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in postpartum women with and without pain: a network analysis BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Postpartum women Pain Depression Anxiety Stress Network analysis |
| title | Comparison of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in postpartum women with and without pain: a network analysis |
| title_full | Comparison of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in postpartum women with and without pain: a network analysis |
| title_fullStr | Comparison of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in postpartum women with and without pain: a network analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparison of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in postpartum women with and without pain: a network analysis |
| title_short | Comparison of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in postpartum women with and without pain: a network analysis |
| title_sort | comparison of symptoms of depression anxiety and stress in postpartum women with and without pain a network analysis |
| topic | Postpartum women Pain Depression Anxiety Stress Network analysis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07858-9 |
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