Maternal mental health and coping during the COVID-19 lockdown in the UK: Data from the COVID-19 New Mum Study.

Dib, Sarah; Rougeaux, Emeline; Vázquez-Vázquez, Adriana; Wells, Jonathan C K; Fewtrell, Mary

OBJECTIVE To assess how mothers are feeling and coping during lockdown, and to identify the potential pathways that can assist them. METHODS A descriptive analysis of maternal mental health, coping, support, activities, lockdown consequences was conducted. Women living in the UK with an infant aged ≤12 months completed an online survey. Linear regression was used to identify predictors of maternal mental health and coping. RESULTS A majority of the 1329 participants reported feeling down (56%), lonely (59%), irritable (62%), and worried (71%) to some extent since lockdown began, but 70% felt able to cope. Support with her own health (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.004-0.235), contacting infant support groups (95% CI -0.003 to 0.252), and higher gestational age of the infant (95% CI 0.000-0.063) predicted better mental health. Travelling for work (95% CI -0.680 to -0.121), the impact of lockdown on the ability to afford food (95% CI -1.202 to -0.177), and having an income <£30,000 (95% CI -0.475 to -0.042) predicted poorer mental health. Support with her own health and more equal division of household chores were associated with better coping. CONCLUSION There is a need to assess maternal mental health and identify prevention strategies for mothers during lockdown.