Journal article
Differentiating maternal fatigue and depressive symptoms at six months and four years post partum: Considerations for assessment, diagnosis and intervention
R Giallo, D Gartland, H Woolhouse, S Brown
Midwifery | ELSEVIER SCI LTD | Published : 2015
Abstract
Objective: fatigue and depressive symptoms are common among women in the postpartum period, and it has been proposed that fatigue is a risk factor for later depression. To progress this research, there is a need to clarify the conceptual and measurement issue of whether these two sets of symptoms are distinct constructs. There is also a need to determine whether they are distinct constructs beyond the postnatal period. The aim of the study was to assess the construct and discriminant validity of fatigue and depressive symptoms as measured by the SF-36 Vitality subscale (SF-36) and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at six months and at four years post partum. Design, setting and..
View full abstractGrants
Awarded by Australian Research Council
Funding Acknowledgements
This study was approved by the following human research ethics committees: La Trobe University (2002/38); Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne (2002/23); Southern Health, Melbourne (2002-099B); Angliss Hospital, Melbourne (2002), Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne (27056A). This research was supported by project grants from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (nos. ID191222, ID433006 and ID1048829), a VicHealth Public Health Research Fellowship (2002-2006), a National Health and Medical Research Council Career Development Award (ID491205) and ARC Future Fellowship (IDFT1 10101036) awarded to SJ.B. and the Victorian Government's Operational Infrastructure Support Program. We are extremely grateful to all of the women taking part in the study; to members of the Maternal Health Study Collaborative Group; and to members of the Maternal Health Study research team who have contributed to data collection and coding (Ellie McDonald, Ann Krastev, Susan Perlen, Liesje Brice, Maggie Flood, Kay Paton, Renee Paxton, Mary Connellan, and Martine Spaull).