Yang N, Chen YH, Li LX, Lai XL. Status and influencing factors of anxiety and depression in pregnant women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. World J Psychiatry 2026; 16(7): 117399 [DOI: 10.5498/wjp.117399]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Xiao-Lu Lai, Department of Obstetrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, No. 950 Donghai Street, Fengze District, Quanzhou 362000, Fujian Province, China. xiaolulai0923@163.com
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Psychiatry
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Yang N, Chen YH, Li LX, Lai XL. Status and influencing factors of anxiety and depression in pregnant women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. World J Psychiatry 2026; 16(7): 117399 [DOI: 10.5498/wjp.117399]
World J Psychiatry. Jul 19, 2026; 16(7): 117399 Published online Jul 19, 2026. doi: 10.5498/wjp.117399
Status and influencing factors of anxiety and depression in pregnant women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy
Ning Yang, Ya-Hong Chen, Li-Xia Li, Xiao-Lu Lai
Ning Yang, Ya-Hong Chen, Xiao-Lu Lai, Department of Obstetrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou 362000, Fujian Province, China
Li-Xia Li, Department of Psychiatry, The Third Hospital of Quanzhou, Quanzhou 362000, Fujian Province, China
Co-first authors: Ning Yang and Ya-Hong Chen.
Author contributions: Yang N and Chen YH contributed to the study’s conceptualization, methodology, data analysis, and original draft writing, and they contributed equally to this manuscript and are co-first authors; Li LX was responsible for data curation; Lai XL contributed to the study’s conceptualization, methodology, supervision, review, editing, and funding acquisition. All the authors have reviewed and approved the final manuscript.
Institutional review board statement: This study was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, No. 2025-606.
Informed consent statement: All study participants or their legal guardians provided written informed consent before study enrollment.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
STROBE statement: The authors have read the STROBE Statement-checklist of items, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the STROBE Statement-checklist of items.
Data sharing statement: Data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.
Corresponding author: Xiao-Lu Lai, Department of Obstetrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, No. 950 Donghai Street, Fengze District, Quanzhou 362000, Fujian Province, China. xiaolulai0923@163.com
Received: January 23, 2026 Revised: March 4, 2026 Accepted: April 7, 2026 Published online: July 19, 2026 Processing time: 156 Days and 1.9 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
While hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are well-known for physical risks, their psychological impact, particularly regarding anxiety and depression, remains inadequately examined. The concurrent physiological stress and illness-related concerns likely elevate mental health risks. This study hypothesized that lower education levels, postpartum mother–infant separation, insufficient family support, and sleep disorders are significant risk factors for anxiety and depression in women with HDP.
AIM
To identify the risk factors of anxiety and depression among patients with HDP to guide clinical interventions.
METHODS
Notably, 548 pregnant women with HDP were selected as participants among inpatients between March 2023 and March 2025. The patients were divided into symptomatic and asymptomatic groups. The Self-Rating Anxiety Scale and Self-Rating Depression Scale were used to assess anxiety and depression levels, respectively, in all patients.
RESULTS
After analyzing 531 valid questionnaires among women with HDP, the prevalence of anxiety and depression was found to be 41.91% (215/531). Significant differences were observed between the case and control groups in terms of education level, postpartum mother–infant separation, family support, and sleep disorders (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis confirmed that the four factors were independent risk factors (odds ratio > 1, P < 0.05). Anxiety and depression scores were negatively correlated with education level and family support and positively correlated with mother–infant separation and sleep disorders (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION
Increased anxiety and depression among mothers with HDP are correlated with lower education levels, postpartum separation, inadequate family support, and sleep disorders.
Core Tip: The prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy was relatively high (41.91%). This study identified low education levels, postpartum separation of the mother and child, insufficient family support, and sleep disorders as significant risk factors. The decision tree demonstrating the degree of family care as the root node had good predictive performance (area under the curve = 0.826). This model provides an effective tool for the early identification of individuals with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy at high risk of anxiety and depression.
