Prevalence of Poor Sleep Quality in Perinatal and Postnatal Women: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

Overview

Journal Front Psychiatry

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2020 Apr 2

PMID 32231599

Citations 37

Authors

Yuan Yang

Wen Li

Tian-Jiao Ma

Ling Zhang

Brian J Hall

Gabor S Ungvari

Yu-Tao Xiang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Sleep disturbance is common in perinatal and postnatal women, but the epidemiology of sleep problems is highly variable in these populations. This was a meta-analysis that examined the prevalence of poor sleep quality and its correlates among perinatal and postnatal women.

Methods: A systematic search of both international and Chinese databases (PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, CNKI, and Wangfang) was performed. Studies with data on sleep quality measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were included.

Results: Forty-two studies were included for analyses. The prevalence of poor sleep quality was 54.2% (95% CI: 47.9-60.5%) in perinatal and postnatal women, with 44.5% (95% CI: 37.6-51.6%) in perinatal women and 67.2% (95% CI: 57.6-75.5%) in postnatal women. The pooled total PSQI score was 7.54 ± 0.40 (95% CI: 6.75-8.33), while the average PSQI component scores varied from 0.13 ± 0.04 for use of sleeping medication to 1.51 ± 0.17 for habitual sleep efficiency. Maternal age, study site, survey year, comorbidity, PSQI cut-off value, and quality assessment score had significant moderating effects on the prevalence of poor sleep quality.

Conclusion: Given the negative impact of poor sleep quality on health outcomes and well-being, regular screening for poor sleep quality and effective interventions should be conducted for this population.

Citing Articles

Association between the plant-based Mediterranean diet and neuropsychological distress of the breastfeeding mothers and their infants.

Taherpour A, Bahrami A, Zarban A, Khorasanchi Z, Asadian A, Ferns G BMC Pediatr. 2025; 25(1):124.

PMID: 39979864 PMC: 11841363. DOI: 10.1186/s12887-024-05321-w.

Poor sleep quality and associated factors among HIV-positive and negative postpartum women in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a comparative cross-sectional study.

Mihertabe M, Geremew A, Fentie E, Rtbey G Front Psychiatry. 2025; 15:1362384.

PMID: 39917381 PMC: 11798993. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1362384.

Prevalence of insomnia and associated factors among postpartum mothers in Mattu City, Southwest Ethiopia: a community-based study.

Alemu S, Wedajo L, Gezimu W, Geda B, Jarso M BMC Psychiatry. 2024; 24(1):884.

PMID: 39633344 PMC: 11616291. DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-06351-5.

The impact of exercise interventions on sleep in adult populations with depression, anxiety, or posttraumatic stress: review of the current evidence and future directions.

Szuhany K, Sullivan A, Gills J, Kredlow M J Behav Med. 2024; 48(1):4-21.

PMID: 39477903 DOI: 10.1007/s10865-024-00532-z.

The Effect of Music Therapy on the Sleep Quality of Patients with Heart Failure: The Miracle of Nature Music.

Hosseini N, Seylani K, Matourypour P, Fakhrodini M, Haghani H, Zakerimoghadam M Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2024; 29(4):424-430.

PMID: 39205845 PMC: 11349172. DOI: 10.4103/ijnmr.ijnmr_385_22.

References

Hellstrom A, Hagell P, Fagerstrom C, Willman A . Measurement properties of the Minimal Insomnia Symptom Scale (MISS) in an elderly population in Sweden. BMC Geriatr. 2010; 10:84. PMC: 2994866. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2318-10-84. View

Becker N, Jesus S, Joao K, Viseu J, Martins R . Depression and sleep quality in older adults: a meta-analysis. Psychol Health Med. 2016; 22(8):889-895. DOI: 10.1080/13548506.2016.1274042. View

Zhou H, Li W, Ren Y . Poor sleep quality of third trimester exacerbates the risk of experiencing postnatal depression. Psychol Health Med. 2018; 25(2):229-238. DOI: 10.1080/13548506.2018.1549738. View

Hairston I, Solnik-Menilo T, Deviri D, Handelzalts J . Maternal depressed mood moderates the impact of infant sleep on mother-infant bonding. Arch Womens Ment Health. 2016; 19(6):1029-1039. DOI: 10.1007/s00737-016-0652-2. View

Okun M, Dunkel Schetter C, Glynn L . Poor sleep quality is associated with preterm birth. Sleep. 2011; 34(11):1493-8. PMC: 3198204. DOI: 10.5665/sleep.1384. View

Lee K . Alterations in sleep during pregnancy and postpartum: a review of 30 years of research. Sleep Med Rev. 2004; 2(4):231-42. DOI: 10.1016/s1087-0792(98)90010-7. View

Francis B, Klebanoff M, Oza-Frank R . Racial discrimination and perinatal sleep quality. Sleep Health. 2017; 3(4):300-305. DOI: 10.1016/j.sleh.2017.05.012. View

Huang C, Carter P, Guo J . A comparison of sleep and daytime sleepiness in depressed and non-depressed mothers during the early postpartum period. J Nurs Res. 2004; 12(4):287-96. DOI: 10.1097/01.jnr.0000387513.75114.bb. View

Gelaye B, Barrios Y, Zhong Q, Rondon M, Borba C, Sanchez S . Association of poor subjective sleep quality with suicidal ideation among pregnant Peruvian women. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2015; 37(5):441-7. PMC: 4558240. DOI: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2015.04.014. View

10.

Moller-Olsen C, Friedman S, Prakash C, North A . Clinical characteristics of maternal mental health service users treated with mood stabilizing or antipsychotic medication. Asia Pac Psychiatry. 2017; 10(2):e12304. DOI: 10.1111/appy.12304. View

11.

Bhatta N, Assanangkornchai S . Patterns of domestic violence against women during pregnancy and the postpartum period in Kathmandu, Nepal. Asia Pac Psychiatry. 2018; 11(1):e12342. DOI: 10.1111/appy.12342. View

12.

Beebe K, Lee K . Sleep disturbance in late pregnancy and early labor. J Perinat Neonatal Nurs. 2007; 21(2):103-8. DOI: 10.1097/01.JPN.0000270626.66369.26. View

13.

Panvatvanich S, Lolekha P . Restless Legs Syndrome in Pregnant Thai Women: Prevalence, Predictive Factors, and Natural Course. J Clin Neurol. 2019; 15(1):97-101. PMC: 6325358. DOI: 10.3988/jcn.2019.15.1.97. View

14.

Hung C, Lin C, Stocker J, Yu C . Predictors of postpartum stress. J Clin Nurs. 2011; 20(5-6):666-74. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2010.03555.x. View

15.

Higgins J, Thompson S . Quantifying heterogeneity in a meta-analysis. Stat Med. 2002; 21(11):1539-58. DOI: 10.1002/sim.1186. View

16.

Dorheim S, Bondevik G, Eberhard-Gran M, Bjorvatn B . Sleep and depression in postpartum women: a population-based study. Sleep. 2009; 32(7):847-55. PMC: 2704916. DOI: 10.1093/sleep/32.7.847. View

17.

Kamysheva E, Skouteris H, Wertheim E, Paxton S, Milgrom J . A prospective investigation of the relationships among sleep quality, physical symptoms, and depressive symptoms during pregnancy. J Affect Disord. 2009; 123(1-3):317-20. DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2009.09.015. View

18.

Li L, Wang Y, Wang S, Zhang L, Li L, Xu D . Prevalence of sleep disturbances in Chinese university students: a comprehensive meta-analysis. J Sleep Res. 2018; 27(3):e12648. DOI: 10.1111/jsr.12648. View

19.

Popevic M, Milovanovic A, Milovanovic S, Nagorni-Obradovic L, Nesic D, Velaga M . Reliability and Validity of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index-Serbian Translation. Eval Health Prof. 2016; 41(1):67-81. DOI: 10.1177/0163278716678906. View

20.

Jomeen J, Martin C . The impact of choice of maternity care on psychological health outcomes for women during pregnancy and the postnatal period. J Eval Clin Pract. 2008; 14(3):391-8. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2753.2007.00878.x. View