Objective: Depression affects approximately 20% of pregnant women.  Pregnant women who experience depression are at greater risk for postpartum depression and their offspring’s health may be compromised.  Psychological and pharmaceutical therapy has been shown to reduce rates of depression; however, such treatments can be costly, time-intensive, and few medications have been established as unquestionably safe during pregnancy. Additional strategies that complement these therapies are needed, which may include regular engagement in physical activity (PA).  Empirical evidence indicates that PA is associated with reduced depression symptoms among pregnant women.  However, all studies have used self-report measures, which are subject to item-interpretation, recall bias, and social desirability effects.  To provide an accurate understanding of the relationship between PA and depression among pregnant women, the present study examined this association while employing an objective measure of PA (i.e., accelerometry) among pregnant women. 

Design: The present study employed a cross-sectional study design using a representative sample of non-institutionalized U.S. civilians, selected by a complex, multistage probability design. 

Setting: Date from the 2005-2006 National Health and Examination Survey were used for the present study. 

Patients/Participants: : One-hundred and forty one pregnant women (determined from a urine and serum blood sample) were part of the study.

Methods: These participants completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 to assess depression status and provided at least 4 days of 10+ hours of monitoring data (ActiGraph 7164 accelerometer).

Results: More than 19% of the pregnant women experienced some depression and, compared to their non-depressed counterparts, they were less physically active. Pregnant women that were not depressed spent significantly (p < 0.05) more time in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) intensity than pregnant women with some depression (M = 14.49 ± 1.29 min/day vs. M = 8.75 ± 1.98 min/day, respectively).  With regard to meeting PA guidelines (i.e., 150 min of MVPA or 75 min of vigorous PA per week), a smaller percentage of depressed pregnant women (4.79% ± 1.47) met guidelines compared to non-depressed pregnant women (20.89% ± 7.99) (p < 0.01).  Controlling for age, race-ethnicity, marital status, smoking status, BMI, and gestation, the odds ratio for meeting PA guidelines was 10.73 (95% CI: 0.88-130.68; p = 0.06) for non-depressed pregnant women, compared to depressed pregnant women. 

Conclusion/Implications for nursing practice: When feasible, obstetricians and nurses should encourage pregnant women to engage in safe forms of physical activity on a regular basis, assuming an uncomplicated pregnancy.   

Keywords: exercise, mental health, pregnancy, psychology, women