Postpartum Anxiety and Sociodemographic Factors: Preliminary Results from a 6-Month Cross-Sectional Study in Latvia

Objectives: Anxiety in postpartum women is a critical mental health concern, as it can adversely affect maternal well-being, infant development, and the overall family dynamic. We assessed the prevalence and severity of anxiety symptoms among postpartum women during the second month after delivery and analysed the associations between anxiety levels and sociodemographic characteristics.

Materials and Methods: A 6-month period cross-sectional preliminary analysis was conducted as part of a larger postpartum depression study for women (n=144) attending the outpatient clinic at Riga Maternity Hospital. Participants aged 18 and older were screened 4-6 weeks after childbirth using Generalized Anxiety Disorder – 7 (GAD-7) scale. Participants (mean age: 31.02 ± 5.58 years) were categorized into mild (scores 5-9, n=39) and moderate-to-severe anxiety groups (scores ≥10, n=18). Sociodemographic data, including age, education, residence, maternal and paternal employment, income, financial satisfaction and reproductive history, were collected and analysed using chi-square tests.

Results: Age was significantly associated with anxiety severity, with 44.44% of women aged >35 years in the moderate-to-severe anxiety group compared to 5.13% in the mild group. Higher education was prevalent across both groups. No significant associations were found between the severity of anxiety and other sociodemographic factors, including BMI, residence, ethnicity, or reproductive factors. Financial dissatisfaction was more prevalent in the GAD-7 ≥10 group (18.75%) compared to the mild group (4.35%), suggesting a potential association.

Conclusions: The findings suggest that older mothers may be at higher risk for moderate-to-severe anxiety symptoms. These initial results emphasize the importance of incorporating anxiety screening alongside depression assessment in postpartum care. Given the global trend toward delayed childbearing and the observed age-related anxiety patterns, further research with a larger sample size is necessary to confirm these preliminary findings, particularly examining the relationship between anxiety symptoms and financial stressors. The marginally significant trend in financial satisfaction suggests this area may warrant particular attention in future studies.