Depressive symptoms hopelessness self-efficacy and COVID-19-related stressors among pregnant women in Hungary across two pandemic waves

Abstract

Abstract Depression and hopelessness during pregnancy may be intensified by public health crises, yet less is known about how pregnancy- and pandemic-related stressors differ across successive COVID-19 waves. This study examined depressive symptoms, hopelessness, self-efficacy, and COVID-19-related concerns among pregnant women in Hungary during two independent cross-sectional pandemic waves. A total of 692 pregnant women participated in Wave 1 and 459 in Wave 2. Participants completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Beck Hopelessness Scale, General Self-Efficacy Scale, and the study-specific „Pregnancy during the coronavirus” questionnaire. EPDS categories did not differ significantly between waves; 11.8% of participants in Wave 1 and 10.5% in Wave 2 fell into the major depressive symptom range. Mild hopelessness was reported by 31.1% and 26.4%, and moderate/severe hopelessness by 3.2% and 3.3%, respectively. Confinement-related difficulties and daily disruption, as well as perceived support and positive reappraisal, were higher in Wave 1 than Wave 2, both p < 0.001. In Wave 2, unplanned or unwanted pregnancy was associated with higher depressive symptoms, hopelessness, and financial/housing concerns. Emotional distress and impaired coping was the strongest predictor of EPDS and BHS scores, while self-efficacy was a consistent negative predictor. These findings support pregnancy-sensitive mental health screening during public health crises.