Association between walking, dysphoric mood and anxiety in late pregnancy: A cross-sectional study
Abstract
Relationship between physical activity and mental disorders in late pregnancy is unclear. In this work, we demonstrate that there is a significant association between the time spent on walking and symptoms of depression and anxiety in antenatal period. The cross-sectional study was done on a sample of 200 healthy women in 9th month of physiological pregnancy at Health center Kraljevo, Serbia during 2015. Each participant was given a questionnaire consisting of general questions regarding physical activity, pregnancy, and other parameters. Also, each participant completed a Beck depression inventory (BDI) and Zung anxiety scale (ZAS). There was a statistically significant negative correlation (p<0.05) between the BDI score and the daily time spent on walking. There was also a strong positive connection between the daily time spent on walking and level of anxiety (p<0.01). To our knowledge this is the first study to jointly test the relationship between scores of Beck depression inventory and Zung anxiety scale, and time spent on walking as physical activity in antenatal period. The results represent the basis for further research in the field of gynecological psychology, psychiatry and behavioral physiology.
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Higher levels of physical activity in late pregnancy appear to have a protective effect and are negatively correlated with the development of postpartum depression.
“Recent evidence shows that ineffective or unsatisfactory epidural analgesia during labor may be positively associated with higher postpartum depression symptoms [52], whereas higher levels of physical activity in late pregnancy appear to have a protective effect and are negatively correlated with the development of postpartum depression [53].”
From Understanding mothers’ lived experiences of postpartum depression: a qualitative phenomenological study (2025) · cites this paper as [53]
Cites
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Self-citationInternet Use, Facebook Intrusion, and Depression: Results of a Cross-Sectional Study
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Davenport, M. H., McCurdy, A. P., Mottola, M. F., Skow, R. J., Meah, V. L., Poitras, V. J., Jaramillo Garcia, A., Gray, C. E., Barrowman, N., Riske, L., et al. (2018) · British Journal of Sports Medicine · doi:10.1136/bjsports-2018-099697 · Cited by 269 · see citing works
Walking on sunshine: Scoping review of the evidence for walking and mental health
Kelly, P., Williamson, C., Niven, A. G., Hunter, R., Mutrie, N., & Richards, J. (2018) · British Journal of Sports Medicine · doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-098827 · Cited by 253 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Petrovic, D., Perovic, M., Lazovic, B., & Pantic, I.
- Affiliations
- University of Belgrade (RS)
- Corresponding author
- Pantic, Igor
- ORCID
- Pantic, Igor
- Venue
- Psychiatry Research
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2016-12
- Volume
- 246
- Pages
- 360-363
- ISSN
- 0165-1781 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2530696340
- Cited by
- 26
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 2
- FWCI
- 0.85
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychiatry Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Pregnancy-related medical research
- Keywords
- walking, physical activity, antenatal depression, anxiety, late pregnancy, dysphoric mood, Beck Depression Inventory, Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, maternal mental health
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Affect, Anxiety, Cross-Sectional Studies, Depression, Female, Humans, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications, Walking, Serbia, Young Adult
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