Sleep quality, antepartum depression and self-harm thoughts in pregnant Chinese women

Previous literature has shown a significant association between sleep and depression, whereas limited studies have examined the association of sleep quality with self-harm ideation in pregnant Chinese women.

A total of 898 pregnant women (first to third trimester) from the Young Investigation Study were enrolled in this study. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire was used to assess sleep quality. Antepartum depression and self-harm ideation were evaluated using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs).

In this sample, the prevalence of poor sleep quality and antepartum depression was 44.3 % and 24.4 %, respectively. Furthermore, 12.8 % of women were considered as having self-harm ideation. Individuals in different trimesters reported similar prevalence of self-harm thoughts. Women were more likely to report self-harm thoughts if they were categorized as poor sleep quality or antepartum depression. And women with moderate or severe depression had higher risk of self-harm ideation and poor sleep, compared with those with mild depression. Although sleep quality indirectly influenced self-harm thoughts through the mediation effect of depressive symptoms, poor sleep quality was still associated with a 2.62-fold increased odds of self-harm ideation among women in the second trimester (OR = 2.62; 95 % CI: 1.11-6.21), after adjustment for depression.

Causality cannot be inferred. Results should be generalized carefully. Depression was evaluated by a screening tool rather than clinical interviews.

The prevalence of poor sleep quality, depressive symptoms and self-harm ideation in pregnant Chinese women were noteworthy and high. Besides, a direct effect was also found between sleep quality and self-harm thoughts among women in the second trimester. Our findings suggest the need to identify and intervene when sleep disturbances are observed in women during pregnancy.